By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
B D Joe continued his golden run at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday when he won the Dunstan Celebrates 35 Years Handicap Pace (2700m).
It was the three-year-old’s fourth win from as many starts at the Waikato track, highlighted by his victory in the Gr.1 Harness Jewels 3YO Emerald (1609m) back in June.
Beginning from behind the 35m tape B D Joe was tardily away, however, driver David Butcher didn’t have to press his charge too much to catch the field, with Bugalugs setting a sedate pace up front.
Punters could have been forgiven for falling asleep until the 400m mark, with the field remaining in single file until High Point and B D Joe were injected into the race.
High Point was able to keep B D Joe three wide after being urged on by driver Dylan Ferguson, but B D Joe’s class told in the end, running away to a 1-1/2 length victory over American Me, with a further nose back to a brave High Point in third.
It was B D Joe’s first start from a stand and trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer were pleased to see a solid performance from the son of Roll With Joe.
“We brought him down to have a look at a stand under race conditions,” Amanda Telfer said.
“He was a little bit slow, but he seems quite safe so the more practice he has the better he will get, hopefully.
“He now has four starts for four wins on the track, and a Group One. It’s not a bad record to have.”
The Telfers are now content to press on to some loftier standing start targets in the coming month, including the Gr.3 Summer Cup (2200m) and Gr.2 Franklin Cup (2700m) at Alexandra Park.
“He will press forward and see how things go,” Telfer said.
Meanwhile, earlier in the night the stable enjoyed watching Mr Wonderful continue his pleasing run, recording his third successive placing in the Dunstan Recovery Mash Mobile Pace (2200m).
“He is going honest and hopefully a win will be around the corner for him,” Telfer said.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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