NZ HARNESS NEWS
Classy trotting mare Harriet Of Mot is out to put a totally forgettable season behind her.
After winning 10 of her first 16 races, only to lose two to positive swabs in a contamination case, Harriet Of Mot went winless last season and was forced off the scene altogether in March, when she was tying up badly.
The now six-year-old reappeared at the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday and came off 40m to win by four lengths, with the leisurely time (3:35.6, 2600m) suggesting it was the perfect hit-out for a first-up run.
“She went really nice and did it under her own steam. We took the pacifiers off and that seemed to agree with her as well,” said Canterbury co-trainer Aimee Edmonds.
“She’ll go back to the workouts next week and then we’ll look to get some form on the board before the Ordeal Cup (at Addington).
“She’ll race in most of the features in the spring and then have another go at the Dominion Handicap.
“I don’t think we’ll be going back to Auckland with her anytime soon though.”
Last season had started so promisingly when she split Monbet and Marcoola in the Ashburton Flying Mile, won in 1:55.2, but things began to go off the rails at Kaikoura, and got worse when Harriet Of Mot galloped in three races in Auckland over Christmas.
Co-trainers Craig and Aimee Edmonds thought they had her back to her best when she was a desperately unlucky fifth at Addington in February on resuming, and they were pointing her towards open-class racing at Easter with some confidence.
“But then she started tying up badly and we couldn’t get it under control, so in the end we just turned her out,” said Aimee Edmonds.
“She had a good spell and has been back in work for about three months, so she’s quite forward for spring racing.
“We’re trying a new powder in her tucker which is supposed to help tie up and she seems really good this time in.”
After winning 18 races with trotters in the two prior seasons, the Edmonds had just one win last season, with Muscles Galore at Nelson in January, before the impressive pacer Rishi resurrected the term with a late run of four consecutive wins at Richmond and Addington.
Rishi, a cast off from the All Stars stable when looking in need of time, was the first pacing winner for the Edmonds in eight years.
The Bettor’s Delight gelding won a Breeders Crown heat, beating Shineonucrazydiamond at Addington last month, but was then turned out, and he probably won’t be in the stable much longer.
“He’s just been vetted for a sale and if there’s no problems there, he’ll be heading to Lance Justice in Victoria.
“He’s going to be a very nice horse but the money being offered was more than he could win here.”
The Edmonds have a nice team of young trotters building up for the new season again, but clearly Harriet Of Mot is going to be the stable star.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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