Fresh campaigns for talented O'Reilly duo at Addington tonight

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

A classy mare and a talented but erratic trotter will embark on new campaigns for Mid Canterbury trainer Gerard O'Reilly at Addington tonight. 

A winner of six from 19, Esmeralda ($3FF) will resume in Race 6, the Betavet Prepare and Herbazole Mobile Pace (7.21pm) while Tyron Eros ($4.50FF) will make his debut for the stable in Race 1, the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Handicap Trot (4.59pm).

Both were in trials-winning form at Ashburton on June 9, Tyron Eros running his last 800 in 58.9, Esmeralda in 56.8.

O'Reilly believes Esmeralda is the more forward of the two. She had two wins last November before going off the boil in the next three starts prior to her spell. 

"She trialled well and seems close to the mark," says O'Reilly, "I'm pretty happy with her."

As the top-rated horse in the field (R65), she'll start from the outside of the front line in a field that includes the in-form pair of Trump Card ($2.70) and Malakai ($4).

Tyron Eros' previous starts were for the Dunns' Diamond Racing where he had five wins from 16 starts including the Group 1 IRT Ace of Clubs in 2023. O'Reilly will no doubt be hoping to do a "Moses" with Tyron Eros. In 2024 he got the Father Patrick gelding off the Dunns and then had five wins with him over the ensuing 18 months or so.

While Tyron Eros is clearly a trotter with ability there are some issues.

"Aggressive" is the term O'Reilly uses to describe the five-year-old's temperament.

"But he was nice and relaxed at the trials," says O'Reilly, "and off 20 metres we'd just like to see him running on."

He'll start 10 metres behind the Paul Nairn-trained Wilma's Boy who's been backed into $2.70. 

"He hasn't had much racing really for the last year and a half so he'll need a few races to get back into it."

Note: The FF (Fixed Field) odds can fluctuate, so check at tab.co.nz for the latest information.