Novelty pacer Handlebar Hank made his final trip to Addington a winning one in the opening event on Thursday, August 24.
The eight-year-old Christian Cullen gelding was given every chance from the one gate by junior driver Darren Keast and outfinished the pacemaking Earthquake by a neck much to the delight of his many owners.
Handlebar Hank ended three-years out of the winner’s circle with the win, his third at his 99th career start, and was officially retired.
“Dad (Jamie Keast) wanted him to win the Met Multiplier ($7500 bonus) and then he was going to be retired,” said Darren Keast.
The incentive bonus is paid by the NZ Metropolitan Trottiing Club to any horse who starts a minimum of 15 times at Addington during a 12 month period and wins a race during that period.
Jamie Keast, partner of Handlebar Hank’s co-owner and trainer Henriette Westrum, formerly drove and co-trained him (with Westrum) him for his maiden win at Addington four years ago.
The horse was tried in the North Island, winning at Hawera in April 2014 when then trained by Todd Mitchell, but had settled for minor placings in the three years since.
He had five stable changes and was racing in amateur driver and claiming races when Hank’s original co-trainer Henriette Westrum and a host of stable clients claimed him back 12 months ago.
Also joining the ownership for “Hank’”s final racing days were one of Hank’s early owners in Tony Hanlin, along with Phil Cusdin, David O’Neill, Warren Thompson, Brent Slagter, Darren Rainbird and the Fraser Larson Williams Syndicate.
He was busy for the army of owners last term, firstly from the stable of Leonne Jones, before Westrum again resumed training him, picking up four seconds and two thirds in 30 starts.
Handlebar Hank went close with two seconds at Addington last month, but Thursday was the eureka moment for all concerned.
Big-winning driver Colin DeFiliippi will have to wait for next week to gain his 2000th driving win after having to settle for a second (with Petite One) and a third (with Cuddly Jess) in two of the trot races on Thursday.
West Melton training brothers, Ken and Tony Barron, enjoyed a successful night with a training treble.
Top stable driver Blair Orange combined for front-running wins with two of the stable runners in Amazon Lily and For the Corz.
Another of Canterbury’s top reinsmen, Ricky May, fresh from a tour to the World Driving Championship in Canada, reined the other Barron stable winner, Rockaball, to a smart debut maiden win.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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