NZ HARNESS NEWS
The incredible ride his first horse has taken owner Mike Corcoran on is not over just yet.
The Cantabrian was in the winner’s circle for the second time in ten days when Direct Control beat a tidy intermediate grade line up on Invercargill Cup day at Ascot Park on Saturday.
The victory backed up the Paul Court-trained pacer’s win at Timaru last week.
Both victories have come as a bonus for Corcoran and his partner, Lee Zammit.
They sold the Stunin Cullen entire to the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry and agreed the horse could race on until his export.
Direct Control has won two races since the deal was completed and that has continued a brilliant introduction to ownership for the couple.
“He was due to go to Mongolia this week, but he is going to stay down here and race on Thursday,” Corcoran said.
“Part of the deal when we sold him was that he could keep racing and he has won twice.”
Corcoran described himself as a lifelong punter and racing enthusiast, who had no involvement in ownership before getting Direct Control.
That changed after a business meeting with fellow Court stable client, Terry McDonald.
“I have just been a punter.
“I am based in Christchurch and I do a bit of business with Terry.
“We had done a deal and I walked back in to the office and I said hey ‘Terry, any chance I could come in on a horse with you?’
“And he said ‘OK, Mike’.”
Corcoran said some of his friends are in disbelief at the success he has had with his first venture in to harness racing ownership.
“He is my first ever horse to the races and he has won five.
“My mates just can’t believe it.”
When Direct Control is finally exported to Inner Mongolia, it will be up to Corcoran’s next horse, Terror The Christian, to carry on his success.
“I have got a Terror To Love two-year-old, who just qualified and Paul quite likes him.”
The pacer has looked smart, running second in a trial and a workout for the Court stable.
The form out of those performances has already looked good.
Terror The Christian ran second in a workout behind boom trialist Glenledi Chief.
He then ran second to Woman In Gold, who ran second to Pearl Harbour in the first Young Gun Fillies Series heat last week.
Later in the day, Funatthebeach justified his hot favouritism for the Group 3 $30,000 Invercargill Cup with a comfortable victory.
Driver Tim Williams took no chances with the $1.50 tote favourite and moved him to the parked position with a lap to run.
Funatthebeach held runner-up, Royal Bengal, by three-quarters of a length at the finish.
Letspendanitetogetha was a further three-quarters-of-a-length back in third.
The feature trot on Invercargill Cup day was won by War Admiral for trainer Tony Stratford and driver Samantha Ottley.
- NZ Harness News
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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