By Duane Ranger
Kelvin Entwisle never knew he was a winner yesterday. The Christchurch owner was swimming with his children when he got the good news.
Entwisle owns the Majestic Son trotter, Mighty Sunny, and when he went to watch his gelding race, the 6-year-old had already notched up his third consecutive victory.
This time the Todd Mitchell trained and Sailesh Abernethy driven Mighty Sunny won on the Stratford grass from 30 metres behind – just three days after he did the same off the front-line on the New Plymouth grass.
Those wins were both as the $2 and $1.90 favourites respectively. On February 12 Mighty Sunny won at Wanganui as an $11 fifth favourite.
“I was rapt when I heard the news. I haven’t even seen the race yet but I will watch it on HRNZ later. I got the starting time wrong. That’s three straight wins on the grass now.
“I think that’s where he’s at his best. It’s a shame there’s only the Hawera grass track meeting left this season. He obviously likes the grass,” he said.
“He’s on the market. I’m sure he’d do a super job in Aussie,” added Entwisle, who bought Mighty Sunny off Jason Teaz two Decembers ago.
Mighty Sunny notched up his seventh career win in 54 starts in the $7,000 Brian Darth Funeral Services Handicap for the R48 to R70 trotters.
Abernethy took him around to dispute the lead on the far turn and when Grey Stoke (Peter Ferguson) broke underneath him he was left clear on the turn.
Mighty Sunny held out second favourite War Machine (David Butcher) by half a length and trotted the 2600m stand in 3:33.9 (mile rate 2:12.4). His final sectionals were 63.3 and 32.5.
Entwisle praised the work Mitchell had done leading into Mighty Sunny’s hatrick.
“Todd has done a good job and so did his previous trainer, Andrew Grant, who put in all the early ground work. Both must be applauded for the great job they have done with the horse.
“He’s got an R75 rating now so I’d say Todd will just keep him truckin’ around Cambridge because the horse doesn’t go very well the other way around,” said Entwisle.
Meanwhile, the Nicky Chilcott trained and driven Everything claimed the feature event – the $10,000 Quintin Oakes Builders Stratford Cup for the R60 and faster pacers.
The Sands A Flyin gelding was the $3.40 favourite. It was the brown 5-year-old’s sixth win in 12 starts. He’s also placed three times.
It was also his second Country Cups win this season after nailing the Otaki Cup on January 29.
Everything, who is out of the seven-win ($45, 478) Camtastic mare For The Girls, is owned by the Summer Fun Number 1 Syndicate.
“We formed the Syndicate because a lot of people wanted me to get them involved in racing. We have had a wee bit of success to date but nothing major. This horse just tops it all off,” Chilcott said.
Everything paced the 2600m stand in 3:31.6 (mile rate 2:10.9) with final 800m and 400m sectionals of 60.3 and 29.6.
Fleeting Grin (Ferguson) and second favourite Kenrick (David Butcher were second and third a neck and a head away. All three started from the 10m handicap.
Everything was bred by Hambletonian Limited.
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