Mid Canterbury drivers Ricky May and Gerard O'Reilly have been good friends for as long as either can remember but all that was put aside yesterday in the New Zealand Free For All when they fought out the finish of the $250,000 Group1 event at Addington Raceway.
In a titanic home straight duel that went right to the wire, Tiger Tara with Gerard in the bike just got the call over Mossdale Conner and Ricky May.
Tiger Tara and Mossdale Conner are not two of the glamour horses on the New Zealand harness racing scene, they had both been going super all season in the elite grade.
Ricky lead yesterday with Mossdale Conner and was not in the mood to hand up while Gerard and Tiger Tara slotted into a lovely trail behind Arden Rooney in the one out,one back position.
Turning in these two locked horns but it took Tiger Tara the length of the straight to get his nose in front of a game Mossdale Conner.
Gerard was unsure if he had got up on returning to the winners circle
" I knew it was really close but was unsure if we had made it."
" We got a lovely run behind Arden Rooney but you never quite know you are travelling with Tiger Tara during a race as he is such a relaxed horse."
" With his manners he is a lovely horse to drive and he is always up for a fight like we had today."
"He just never stops trying," Gerard said.
Ricky May was fuming after the race, claiming that a flat tyre he received on the last bend had almost certainly cost him the win.
" Greg (Hope) had put the sliding blinds on today and we just flew the barrier and the instructions were to not hand up."
"Zac was on my back with Sky Major turning into the home straight but he has tried to get through on my inside before the passing lane and has punctured my tyre."
"There was never enough room and I am positive it cost Mossdale Conner the win."
"I am gutted for Greg and Nina and the owners because he should have won the race," Ricky said.
An enquiry was opened into the incident but was adjourned due to the fact Zac Butcher had already left the course to fly back to Auckland for drives he had at Alexandra Park last night.
None of that controversy should take the gloss of a great win by Tiger Tara.
Geoff Dunn, Gerard O"Reilly and Tiger Tara are a great combination and yesterday's win at the elite level will not be the last.
Harnesslink Media