By Mac Henry
Broodmare Cochy Bondhu, her breeder-owner Kevin Schuck and trainer Alan Paisley combined to produce the first two trotting winners at Ascot Park on Sunday.
Four year old Coppertone Lad, the second foal of Cochy Bondhu, was on debut when successful in the 2200 metre Collingwood Foodcentre Trot for non-winners. Two races later the mare’s first foal Overcast, at her 86th start, scored her sixth win when taking out the 2700 metre Saddlery Warehouse Handicap Trot from a 10 metre handicap.
A fortnight earlier, the mare’s third foal Over The Love, who like Coppertone Lad is by Love You, had won at Ascot Park for his trainers Ken and Tony Barron. He raced at Methven on Sunday where, after enjoying a good trip three back on the outer, faced a wall of horses in the straight and an unlucky 10th was his lot.
Paisley recalled Leonard, a horse he took over in 2001, was the first he trained for Schuck. The winner of four in New Zealand before his sale to Australia, Leonard is a half-brother to Sylvia’s Star, the dam of Cochy Bondhu.
A mare by Chiola Hanover, Cochy Bondhu was also trained by Paisley for Schuck and won four, the last two in succession at Wyndham in November 2006.
Paisley said the various family members shared no real pattern except that they don’t go as young horses. He noted Coppertone Lad took a long time to gain confidence and singled out the part played by farrier Kevin Campbell as pivotal to the progress made.
“He still lacks speed but trots solidly,” Paisley said of Coppertone Lad.
Merv Butterworth chose Invercargill over Methven on Sunday and in the space of a few minutes either side of 4pm, won at both venues.
“I had four in here and one at Methven,” said the Melbourne owner who had to time to watch Trackside coverage of Motu Premier picking up $13,875 with his win in the Canterbury Country Cups Final before switching his attention back to the live action at Ascot Park, and more success.
Motu Premier’s trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen also chose Invercargill and this gave Butterworth an opening. Jimmy Mack was the Butterworth rep in the Regent Cars Under $7990 At Clyde Street 2200 metre mobile and he had arranged with trainer Brett Gray for Purdon to drive the five year old.
Jimmy Mack was sent out second favourite behind the Graeme Anderson-trained All Star Magician who ironically had been unbeaten in his three starts since leaving the All Stars barn as a non-winner. They were last and second last with 1200 to go before Jimmy Mack got into the three-wide line and All Star Magician with Dexter Dunn aboard was quickly on his back. Then at the 800, disaster for Dunn. All Star Magician got too close to Thaboyz Toy driven by Matt Anderson, locked wheels, a tyre came off and his race ended.
Purdon continued forward, took over in the straight, and won impressively in 2:42.7. He didn’t hear about Motu Premier’s win, or the problems of All Star Magician, until back at the tie-up chains. Jimmy Mack’s share of the stake was $4,400.
It was back to back wins for Gray who produced El Capitan to win the Regent Car & Commercial Mobile pace for the Dolamite Syndicate. His earlier runner for the Butterworth Syndicate was Zealand Star, third in the Final Touch / BP North Road Mobile. Another Butterworth runner, Boom Time, trained and driven by Robin Swain, finished fifth in the same race.
Winner was the Purdon-Rasmussen trained two year old Major Lucky, against horses up to five years of age. A half-brother to last year’s New Zealand Kindergarten Stakes runner-up More The Better, Major Lucky was on his second trip south, having run fourth in this year’s Kindergarten. At Invercargill, Purdon drove the Art Major gelding in a race for the first time.
“I wanted to get a line on him before the Welcome Stakes, we’ll probably have six to enter,” said Purdon, confirming Major Lucky would now be among them.
Not so his stablemates Sicario and Make Mine Diamonds, first two home on debut in the Motor Central two year old Mobile 1700. In the hands of Rasmussen, Sicario trailed from the thousand, took the lane and won in 2:04.9. Purdon first inspected the youngster before the 2016 Australian Pacing Gold Sydney Sale, where he was purchased by Bill Feiss.
“I saw him lunging and liked him, he looked a real natural type,” Purdon said.
He drove the filly Make Mine Diamonds who made the lead her own with a lap to go but couldn’t withstand the challenge of Sicario in the straight. The strong upstanding filly was purchased by the Butterworth Racing Syndicate at the APG Melbourne Sale.
“I bought her on size, type and breeding,” said Butterworth, “the sale was in January 2016, she has been in New Zealand since two weeks after that.”
On Thursday, along with both Sicario and Motu Premier, she returns.
“Michelle Neilson is going over with them,” Purdon said. “Sicario will race in an APG heat for colts and geldings on Tuesday week (11 April at Menangle) and Make Mine Diamonds in the fillies race on Tuesday fortnight (18 April at Menangle). They both have natural ability, both very professional, I was proud of them today.”
The final for males will be at Menangle on 29 April and for fillies at Melton on 6 May.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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