John Morrison in the sulky. Photo supplied.“I’m going to be as good as Ricky May one day.”

A young John Morrison uttered those words to me one day at the races.

I don’t even think he would have been five years old, but here was this kid – brimming with confidence, wearing a set of colours and a helmet knowing exactly what he wanted to do with his life.

Few would have bet against the young kid from Mid Canterbury following his dream and stepping into the harness racing world as a driver.

It was as close to a sure thing as you can find in racing.

But few would have predicted that the career would reach the dizzying heights of a New Zealand Trotting Cup drive so early on in its development.

And while he’s a long way away from getting anywhere near to the same level as Mid Canterbury great, Ricky May – John Morrison is well and truly on the path.

And on Tuesday, the former Ashburton College student will join his idol out on the track on the biggest of stages, when they both line up in the ultimate, the New Zealand Trotting Cup.

Morrison is on Di Caprio while May will drive Heisenberg and while neither has a strong chance of winning the great race, seeing two Mid Canterbury sons from different generations out there is testament to the fact that this region still has great potential as a breeding ground for the next wave of talent.

May, in his normal quietly spoken way, heaped a bit of praise on his young prodigy.

“It’s a huge thing for him, he’s done incredibly well,” the Methven farmer said this week.

“He’s put a lot of work into his driving, has shown a lot of dedication and he is reaping the rewards of that and to get a Cup drive, well that’s a massive moment.”

May was supposed to be driving one of the early leading contenders for the Cup – AG’s White Socks, but injury curtailed his Cup plans.

However he was lucky enough to pick up the drive on Heisenberg for Robert Dunn, and had his first steer on him on Monday in the Kaikoura Cup – where they ran fifth – and May was suitably impressed.

“I thought he went really good, he was making up ground at the finish which wasn’t easy to do, so it was a really good run.

“Look, he’s probably a bit behind some of the really good ones, but he’s genuine and seems to want to be out there doing it so he’s not the worst chance if things happened to go his way.”

Having May in the bike in a New Zealand Trotting Cup is a huge bonus in anyone’s eyes – no-one has a record that equals his seven wins when it comes to harness racing’s greatest event.

Morrison, on the other side of the coin, is – to use a racing term – coming in fresh.

He’s only ever watched the Cup from the grandstand, but is fizzing about the opportunity to get out and be a part of it all with $101-to-one shot Di Caprio.

“It’s a huge thrill and a great honour just to be able to walk out onto that track as part of the field,” Morrison said.

“You know, it’s what you dream of – and all you want to do when you’re growing up. But to actually get that opportunity to do it is something else.

“And for me, being able to drive a horse for a guy like Brian O’Meara is as much of an honour.

“He’s such a respected and brilliant horseman and has a proud history with this race – so to be wearing his colours is a big moment too.”

While Di Caprio might not have had the most ideal prep based on two disappointing runs at his last two performance, a solid effort to run fourth in the Cup Trial on Wednesday pointed towards better things being on the horizon.

“He’s had a couple of issues, but Brian has got on top of them and he’s right back on track now, we just need that little bit of luck.”

And as Ricky May would tell anyone, if you want to win a New Zealand Trotting Cup, luck is a huge part of the equation.

A piece of advice the master is certain to have passed onto the apprentice at some point along the way.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 7 November 2020