Lofty hopes for imported New Zealander

Charlton harness racing trainer Greg Norman has some lofty hopes for his imported New Zealander Aladdin (Sweet Lou) later in the year, but the immediate task on his radar presents at Shepparton’s metro meeting on Saturday night.

Norman joined Trots Talk hosts Nims Azoor and Tim O’Connor to chat about the four-year-old, who will look to build on his impressive first-up victory on June 20 in this weekend’s Alabar Pace.

The 2190m event will be the son of Sweet Lou’s second run since going out for a spell in September last year.

“He’d had a lot of racing as a two and three-year-old and just needed a good spell,” Norman said.

“He’s been in a good paddock, he’s come back, we’ve brought him up slowly and we’ve looked after him.

“I think the horse is a very nice horse and we’ll just give him every opportunity at some of the nicer races later in the season, hopefully.”

Aladdin was purchased out of New Zealand as a three-year-old and won the Mildura Guineas and SA Pacing Derby at his first starts for Norman during April last year.

Ryan Sanderson will partner the horse in Saturday night’s $20,000 race, which is the first leg of the Shepparton Quaddie at 7.35pm.

LISTEN TO NORMAN ON THIS WEEK’S EPISODE OF TROTS TALK BELOW:

For complete race fields, click here.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria