By Tayler Strong
Hamish Hunter posted his 500th win as a trainer when he trained and drove I Try at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
He races the Mach Three 4yr-old with the What Ever syndicate. The same combination has Franco Ledger, the winner of 25 races and $682,000 in stakes.
The rising 9yr-old Franco Ledger has been back in work three weeks with Hunter after an Australian campaign.
Hunter had his first win as a trainer with Karen’s Pride at Waikouaiti in October, 1976 when a junior driver. His best tally is 33 wins in the 2013-14 season.
Rory McIlwrick had his last drive for the season when he teamed with the winner Golden Gate on Thursday night. McIlwrick has reached a total of 74 wins and one further win would rule him out as a junior driver next season.
The 25yr-old has driven 25 winners this season to equal his best tally of last season.
“I have had the opportunity for some good drives but I want to stay a junior next season so that is it until August,” said McIlwrick.
A change of stable has worked the oracle for Jackofdiamonds, who led throughout a maiden trot.
“He needed to be in a stable working with other horses,” said Sam Moore, his Brighton owner and breeder.
Moore qualified Jackofdiamonds in January, 2015 and transferred the 5yr-old to Gordon and Colin Lee at Wyndham a month ago. Jackofdiamonds was having his third start from new quarters.
He is by Majestic Son and the second foal of Aceofdiamonds, a Sundon mare who won seven races for Moore. She has also left the winners Maidofdiamonds and Sky Commander.
The Lees were out of luck with Moment of Sun (race 6), who was declared a late scratching after colliding with Missandei prior to the start and puncturing a sulky tyre.
Colours similar to those carried by the champion thoroughbred Bonecrusher were carried to success for the first time when Gangnam Style led throughout a maiden pace. Neville Cleaver, of Invercargill secured the cream with brown sash, cream and brown striped sleeves colours from trainer Paul Hillis when Cleaver held a licence to train.
He races Gangnam Style with veteran owner, Kevin Strong. They bought Gangnam Style as a 2yr-old late last season from Stephen Boyd after the Gotta Go Cullen gelding had finished second at Forbury Park.
Gangnam Style was placed in his first two starts when transferred to Williamson before he developed a wind ailment in August. He underwent surgery and was resuming on Thursday.
George Molloy, of Mosgiel returned to the ranks of winning owners after a 16 year absence when Stunnin VC was successful. The 3yr-old Washington VC – Our Sunshine Girl filly is raced by Molloy, his wife, Lois and trainer Martin Denton.
They bred Stunnin VC, a half sister to Jinky Johnson, who was sold after he qualified.
Jinky Johnson won his three starts when trained by Graeme Anderson and Amber Hoffman before the Enrique gelding was sold to Australia, where he won another five races.
Molloy bred and raced Let Mark Do It, who won five from seven starts when trained by Noel Creighton. Let Mark Do It was sold to the United States in 2000. Molloy, now a real estate agent after 40 years operating a car sale yard, earlier raced
Amazon Princess, who was trained by Ali Malcolmson to win four races, the last at Forbury Park in 1986.
Run to Hide was claimed for $5000 by junior driver Andrew Fitzgerald.
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