NZ HARNESS NEWS
Local pair Nicky Chilcott and Dylan Ferguson combined to win both trotting races on their home track in Cambridge Thursday evening.
It was inclement weather in the Waikato but that didn’t stop Ferguson from reining home both Shay Scott and Harry H to win for his boss Chilcott, who trains the pair.
Shay Scott obliterated a maiden field by over 27 lengths at his last start on the track on August 3, and backed that up with another easy – and lengthy – win last night.
He benefited from a couple of gallopers at the top of the straight, but it was all elementary given the way in which he strode clear to win by four lengths.
“I think with him, it was more a bit of luck that he wasn’t one of the gallopers, too,” said Ferguson post-race.
“But, seriously, once he was underway he was travelling nice the whole way and never left second gear.”
Chilcott has gone on record as saying the horse is far better right-handed, though he is yet to run in the money in two starts at Alexandra Park thus far.
“You wouldn’t think he’s better at Auckland the way he’s going at Cambridge, but he’s definitely more comfortable the other way,” said Ferguson.
Harry H, a recent addition to Chilcott’s barn after spending most of last season in the Manawatu with Doug Gale, was victorious in the R51-84 handicap stand.
The half-brother to former star mare Martina H was an impressive trial winner in Pukekohe nine days earlier and franked that form last night.
He trailed Clover Kate for most of the trip and got the better of her down the stretch to win by a length from the fast-finishing Lovely Bundy.
“We have been happy with his trials, but they’d only been in slow times and we just wanted him to do everything right.
“Once he got in to the trail and they were running time, it suited him down to the ground.”
Bet Out Of Ell won the night’s feature pace, a 2200-metre stand, in a sensational 2.43.7, just 0.3 of a second outside of Awesome Armbro’s national record.
He was driven by Zac Butcher who, along with brother Ben (Bubbles O’Leary) and father David (Rocknroll Lincoln) won races on the card while wearing black armbands.
It was in memory of Michelle Robertson, a niece to David and cousin to Zac and Ben, who died suddenly in Rarotonga on August 5, aged 37.
Caption: Harry H made it two wins for driver Dylan Ferguson and trainer Nicky Chilcott when victorious at Cambridge Thursday night. Photo: Trish Dunell
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