By Brigette Solomon
Canterbury trainer James McDonald was rewarded with perfect results from his venture this week when Eastwood Dream made it back to back wins on day two at Manawatu yesterday.
“It was well worth the trip for us,” says McDonald.
“He’d raced well at Addington earlier in the month finishing third when pulling a flat tyre so we were confident he’d be a good chance up here at Manawatu.”
The five-year-old gelding won Race four, the Cartown Mobile Pace, in the hands of David Butcher. After drawing seven, the gelding was three wide early before Butcher moved forward to sit parked outside leader Oceanic Art. Butcher applied pressure to the leader heading into the final lap and the gelding ground down his opponents in the straight to win by a neck.
“He’s gone some nice races in the past but can get very wound up before the race, so we thought sending him up here and giving him a trip away with racing would be really beneficial for him,” says McDonald.
“It’s a big plus having David drive him and the horse actually heads back to Cambridge now for a stint at David’s barn in Cambridge.”
The win was the second of a driving double for Butcher who was also successful with Clear Left, trained by Scott Dickson, in Race 3 the Doug Bradley Painters Mobile Pace.
Josh Dickie and Blair Orange also scored driving doubles with Orange’s first win of the day on the Stephen Doody trained Johnny Who in Race 1, making it the gelding’s third consecutive win. Our Pegasus Pearl trained by Don Morrison, was Orange’s second winner taking out Race 2, the Marion Hickey Memorial Handicap Trot.
Dickie’s two winners came for employers Steve and Amanda Telfer with Semba and Secrets Abound taking out the seventh and eighth races respectively.
On day one Semba placed second when narrowly beaten by Blue Chip Lou, while Secrets Abound had looked the winner before galloping in the home straight resulting in being disqualified.
“Both horses went well and were deserving winners on day two as they were unlucky the first day” says Dickie.
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