By Tayler Strong
Zachary Binx and Soney Beatt are poised to continue the good innings for the Ford family at Oamaru on Saturday.
The pair are trained at West Melton by Ken Ford, who has the star 3yr-old trotter, Marcoola, winner of the the last seven of his eight starts this season including the New Zealand and Northern Trotting Derbies and Sires’ Stakes Championship. Ford races Marcoola with his son, Clint, the reinsman.
The family stable has won 18 races, all with trotters, this season. Zachary Binx has contributed three and Soney Beatt one. Zachary Binx won the Banks Peninsula Cup at Motukarara in September and he won on grass at Oamaru in March from a 30m handicap.
He won on the all-weather track at Oamaru at his first start. Zachary Binx is raced by Ford and his daughter, Amanda Tomlinson, who has driven the Sundon gelding in his seven wins.
Soney Beatt won at Motukarara in September when driven by Tomlinson, whose daughter, Sheree take the reins on Saturday. Soney Beatt hinted at a return to winning form when second to Kowhai Monarch at Motukarara at his last start.
Sheree drove her first winner, the Ford-trained Little Mo at Oamaru in January.
The Ford stable also has the pacer Tatoo in the Southern Wines Mobile Pace (race 10) at Oamaru. The 11yr-old has had a fourth in three starts since February when he resumed racing from a break of close on five years.
“I brought Tatoo out of retirement for my granddaughter, Kerryn (Tomlinson) to drive at the gymkhana. He is also handy to work in front of the trotters,’’ said Ford.
Kerryn won the Lizzie of Rossland Drivers Challenge, a six race series for Kidz Kartz representatives from Australia and New Zealand at Alexandra Park on May 1, the day after her 16th birthday.
The Ford stable has Amaretto Sun engaged in the Happy Mother’s Day Handicap Trot at Addington on Sunday after five weeks away from racing.
“He (Amaretto Sun) has had a stone bruise and we had him reshod on Tuesday. He is a three quarter brother to Marcoola and a horse with a bit of scope,’’ said Ford.
Amaretto Sun has won five races this season and he is ninth in qualifying order for the 4yr-old trotter section of the Harness Jewels.
Marcoola returned home on Monday.
“We are yet to decide if he will have another race before the Harness Jewels (June 4) but there are a couple of races available at Addington,’’ said Ford.
Monnay, a notable performer last winter, is resuming against Zachary Binx from a 50m handicap. The Phil Williamson-trained Monnay won his last start from 60m at Oamaru in August. He won a trial from 40m at Oamaru on April 26.
Monnay won five races from long handicaps between May and August last year, one from a 70m handicap at Forbury Park. Williamson is also represented in the race by Pyramid Monarch and Pyramid Magic, both minor placed in their last starts.
Williamson has been granted permission by stewards for Pyramid Mustang to start from the unruly position in race 1, the Morrisons Saddlery Trot. Pyramid Mustang has failed to begin cleanly in his two starts when favourite.
The 3yr-old filly Talkerup has the chance to bolster her stake earnings from a Harness Jewels perspective in race 10. The [pole position is also in her favour. Her rival Expresso Martini did well for third at Forbury Park last week after racing three wide for the opening 800m and then without cover.
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