by Duane Ranger
Arna Donnelly created her own piece of harness racing history last season, and after a beneficial two days at Manawatu Raceway this week the Cambridge horsewoman is nearing another personal milestone.
Last season Donnelly was New Zealand’s leading female solo trainer with a personal best 22 wins. With three winners at the Manawatu Harness Racing Club’s meeting on Tuesday and Thursday of this week, Donnelly is now just 10 short of 100 career training wins.
Kyle Marshall drove Eldolar to win on both days, while her winning drive behind Sexy Rexy (Thursday) took her career driving tally to 154.
Marshall was on fire at Palmerston North.
On day one he drove Eldolar and the Fred Mitchell trained Jack Bates to victory, and then two days later the 22-year-old South Auckland driver won behind Eldolar and then the Dave Iremonger trained Desert Storm, and the Mitchell trained Aces N Eights.
“Kyle did a great job behind Eldolar. He’s driving really well at present and I’m chuffed with the way he is driving the gelding.
“Both Eldolar and Sexy Rexy are nice horses. I will talk to the owners and could possibly give Eldolar a freshen-up now, and Sexy Rexy could start at Cambridge on Christmas Eve,” Donnelly said.
The 36-year-old Waikato horsewoman said Eldolar was owned by Craig Good, who also owns stablemate, Imajollywally.
“He won real well on the first day and then I had a few question marks over him as to whether he would back up or not. I was pleasantly surprised with the way he backed up.
“He proved to me that he has got a bit of bottom to him because he did a bit of work in the race. That is encouraging,” said Donnelly.
Marshall trailed Bobbie’s Girl and Scott Dickson, early with Eldolar in the 2000m mobile from his ace draw and then went around to lead down the back straight the first term.
Marshall rated the 4-year-old son of Elsu perfectly for the remainder of the $8,100 Focus Planning R49-R56 Mobile winning by half a length in 2:33 even. That time was 1.2 seconds quicker than what he recorded when winning by three lengths on day one.
Eldolar paced a 2:03.1 mile rate and came home in 60 even and 29.8. he was the $2.10 favourite compared to his $2.40 favourite odds two days earlier.
“He’s a nice horse with a promising future. He gave me a good feel on the first day and I thought he would go close again on Thursday. I think he can win a few more,” Marshall said.
Eldolar has now won two of his 16 starts and placed in three others for $12,328. He was bred by Mrs P M Morrison and C F Turner.
Sexy Rexy was equally impressive. after winning the $8,500 Paul Claridge Electrical Handicap for the R50 and faster trotters.
The 4-year-old Pegasus Spur gelding started from his unruly two draw in the 2000m stand, and Donnelly had the 4-year-old safely away settling him fourth last in the 11-horse field.
Donnelly then went and sat parked at the bell before holding his 10 opponents out by one-and-a-half lengths.
Sexy Rexy stopped the clock in 3:21.4 (mile rate 2:09.6) and trotted her final 800m and 400m in 62.1 and 31 even.
He was the $5.60 third favourite and came into the race with a nice win at Cambridge Raceway on December 1.
“He’s got a lovely gait and I’ve got quite a bit of time for him. It was a massive effort really because he’s just a baby. He gives me the impression he won’t have too many problems taking the next step up,” Donnelly said.
Donnelly is working a team of 17 at Cambridge. She said her two Manawatu winners were nice horses but still had some way to match the feats of No way Else, who had recorded seven wins and more than $56,000.
She also liked Whale Rider who has won two of his 11 starts and placed in four others.
“I’ve got quite a nice little team but none of them would be winning is it wasn’t for my good staff and loyal owners. You are nothing without them. I’m so grateful to my team back home. They do a huge job and every time we win it’s a team effort,” Donnelly stressed.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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