CHARLTON trainer Greg Norman is eyeing a trio of feature races in his former home state of South Australia.
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Norman, who scored a win with his promising three-year-old Apieceoflou on last Saturday night's Terang Pacing Cup program, is hopeful of having three runners at Gawler on cup night early next month.
Recent Group 3 Ararat Pacing Cup winner Zadaka will be aimed at the Gawler Pacing Cup, Apieceoflou is expected to contend for the Gawler Derby, while the grey trotter Blue Coman will likely tackle the trotters cup.
All three feature events are worth $10,000 and will be run on Sunday, March 7.
"As long as COVID lets us, that's the plan, Norman said.
The astute trainer has enjoyed a convincing start to the 2020 harness racing season and was thrilled to see Apieceoflou record his second win on Australian soil on Saturday night.
The former New Zealand pacer only arrived at Charlton in December, and after winning on debut at Shepparton on December 28, put together a pair of nice runs at Tabcorp Park Melton before his victory at Terang..
The gelding, by Sweet Lou out of Rocknroll Hanover, was nicely driven by champion reinswoman Kerryn Manning.
"Kerryn was very impressed with him and even though he is still a bit green, he did a nice job," he said.
"He's only a three-year-old but has been racing against the older horses.
"She used him out of the gate and he still had plenty left at the finish, which is a good sign.
"I thought we had a good chance - of the three we took (to Terang) he was definitely the best chance."
Apieceoflou, who had 16 starts in New Zealand before his transfer to Australia, boosted his overall record to three wins and four placings from 20 starts for earnings of just over $30,000.
Norman said there was no disappointment in the run of Zadaka, who finished 11th in the Group 2 Terang Pacing Cup, won in brilliant fashion by by Wolf Stride.
"He just couldn't get into the race, they just walked and then sprinted home in 55 the last half," he said.
"It was a lot harder race than the week before. I'm sure he'll bounce back."
Norman's third runner for the night Blue Coman finished third behind the impressive Matthew Craven-trained five-year-old Lotamuscle and Downunder Barkers in the NR 56 to 69 trot.
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