John Morrison will be out to break his hometown duck tomorrow at the Ashburton Races. Photo supplied.One of the locals, who just so happens to be kicking a few goals at the moment, is hoping to break his hometown duck at Ashburton tomorrow but knows if he does it will come as a bit a shock.

Young junior driver John Morrison is riding the crest of a wave currently having driven six winners over the last six weeks – but he’s yet to get that elusive win on the track which borders the town where he was born and raised, Ashburton.

“It’d be nice to get one there, seeing as it’s home,” Morrison said.

“But you can’t push for things too much, that’s usually when they start going wrong so I’m just taking the it will happen when it happens approach.”

Morrison has four drives on the Ashburton track at tomorrow’s Ashburton Trotting Club meeting, the last for the racing season, and while they’re all probably outside chances, a top three placing, or better, is quite possible for each.

Two of his chances, Clifden Clowers and Paul’s Verdict will come down to the races in the float with their driver as he is currently holding the role of caretaker trainer for Blenheim based horsewoman, Sandra Mounce.

Both raced at Forbury on Thursday night and both finished fifth, exceeding the expectations of Morrison.

“I was pretty happy with both of them considering I knew they would need the run.

“They’ve both bounced back from the trip down to Dunedin too so hopefully they take another step on Sunday.”

Morrison will also drive Eja Patron for Warren Stapleton in the last of the day and warned that the season-campaigner’s latest runs might not be as bad as what the formline would make out.

“There hasn’t been a lot in the luck department looking back at some of the videos, so hopefully we can get some this week.”

Of the four drives though, Morrison is most excited about the prospects of Rosinupthebow early on in the day.

The Malcolm Shinn trained pacer is yet to win a race but has shown plenty of potential.

“She’s a really nice horse and she’s fresh up which is usually a good thing with anything that Malcolm trains.

“She seems to have a lot of high speed too, so hopefully we get a chance to use it.”

With his recent run of form, Morrison has elevated himself to fifth on the national junior drivers premiership and while he won’t rundown those in front of him, he can toast to a good season with 17 winners in the bank heading into racing at Addington last night.

The most recent of those 17 came on Thursday night at Forbury when he was victorious on Magic Blaze for local trainer Raewyn Low at a double figure price.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 14 July 2018