May seeks first training win in Terry May Memorial

Races don’t come much more poignant than this.

On Sunday, on his home track, the so-called “Mayor of Methven” Ricky May will attempt to train his first official winner in a race named after his late father.

The inaugural Terry May Memorial is set to go at 1.43pm, with Ricky driving Blu Diamond, a Captain Crunch gelding that Terry trained until his death, at age 93, in June.

“I didn’t realise it was Dad’s race until I glanced at the fields,” he says.

“But it worked out good and it would be quite nice to win it – specially on the home track.”

Ricky took out his trainers’ licence for the first time following his father’s death and has yet to get into the winners’ circle. Blu Diamond is the only horse he’s lined up so far, and the best result in four attempts was a second at Ashburton on August 9. His last start was a fourth at Oamaru on August 16.

“I was a bit disappointed with that run but he was a bit off colour as it turned out, he seems better now.”

On Sunday at Mt Harding Blu Diamond has a sticky draw of 12 over the 1700 metres though May reckons he’s “a chance”.

“The second row isn’t ideal but he’s a near enough maiden.”

No-one knows the track better than May. He’s had more than 130 wins there since the 1980s and 3216 all-time, making him the third most successful driver ever in this country behind Tony Herlihy (3748) and Maurice McKendry (3455).

May has eight drives for the day

Race 2 (12.12) : Georgia Trouble
Race 4 (1.12pm) : Regal Spirit
Race 5 (1.43pm) :  Blu Diamond
Race 6 (2.16pm) : Carrera Bandido
Race 7 (2.49pm) : Miki’s Courage
Race 9 (3.59pm) : Lester
Race 10 (4,38pm) : Kairaki Spur
Race 11 (5.09pm) : Radioactive Jaffa

Sunday’s meeting marks the start of the grass track season. There are 11 races in all, starting at 11.45am.

To see the fields click here