In-form Ricky May looking for more success at Addington

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

After landing a treble last Friday night, Ricky May reckons he has got two good winning chances again at Addington on Wednesday. 

The short and sharp seven race midweek meeting gets underway at 5.05pm with May upbeat about Carrera Tranquilo in Race 2, the Check Out Breckon Farms Weanlings at NZB.com Mobile Pace following her last start second last Wednesday.

"She led and just got beaten in a reasonable time so she'd have to be a good chance," says May.

A winner of two from 18, Carrera Tranquilo, a six-year-old mare, is trained by Grant Anderson and in the early markets was a $2.80 favourite.

And $2.80 is also the price being quoted for May's other big hope, Radioactive Jaffa in Heat 9 of the Canterbury Plains Challenge Series (8.00pm). 

The 10-year-old gelding has been a model of consistency, not finishing any worse than fourth in his last six starts, though a fifth career win has been elusive.

Trained by Russell Kennedy, Radioactive Jaffa has a distinct racing pattern, always looking for one last swooping run.

"He's going good and this is a drop in grade," says May, "in saying that he is a funny little horse and needs things to go his way."

His last start at Addington on April 19 was a case in point. He was held up in the middle stages before finishing on well into third. 

May's winning trio of drives last Friday was with Song Of Seas (Tom Bagrie), Better Go Vinnie (Robert and Jenna Dunn) and Tanzania (Laurence Hanrahan).

Just recently he became just the third driver ever in in this country to win 3200 races (he is now on 3203), and third all-time behind Tony Herlihy (3739) and Maurice McKendry (3441).  

Win or lose on Wednesday, Radioactive Jaffa looks set to make the start line for the $40,000 Canterbury Plains Challenge Final at Addington on Friday, May 15 with 15 points accrued during the series so far.

The series has have one more heat this Sunday (May 10) before the Final.

To be eligible for the Final a horse must have had at least one start in a heat of this series, and a minimum of two race starts within the qualification period (April 8 - May 10).

So far there have been eight individual heat winners : 

Always Bee Gee
Belmont Valor
Heaven Forbid
Jukebox Gypsy
Lasa
Stubing
Sweet Dreams 
Hugo 

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