by Duane Ranger
Dave Iremonger’s personal best season looks as though it can only get better after nailing three winners in two days last Friday and Saturday.
The North Island’s leading junior driver, Dylan Ferguson reined home the Iremonger trained Richard Le Fort to his third victory in 10 starts in the $9,000 Streamline Freight Mobile for the up to R55 pacers at Alexandra Park last Friday night.
Iremonger has only had the five-year-old Jereme’s Jet gelding for five starts and has already won twice and placed twice with him.
Then the following morning the Iremonger trained and Scott Iremonger driven maiden four-year-old Rob Roy Mattgregor mare, Genociate, won her 2200m mobile at the Cambridge Workouts by a neck in 2:50.1.
Three workouts later the father and son combination joined again to take out the Learners Trot with their maiden Pegasus Spur gelding, Castletons Spur.
The seven-year-old won the 2200m stand in 3:03.1 by three lengths. There were only five workouts.
Iremonger’s son Scott said both horses felt nice, especially Castletons Spur.
“Even though he’s getting on a bit, Castletons Spur trailed a pace-making learner on Saturday and we managed to pop out and win easily in the straight.
“He’s a nice enough horse. Dad qualified him at Cambridge in February and then he tipped him out when he galloped in his only start in March.
“We will be keeping him because Dad thinks he can win a few,” Iremonger said.
He said Genociate’s win was also comfortable but he wasn’t sure if the mare would remain racing in the Iremonger barn.
“If she could turn her workouts form into race-day form then she should win a few. She raced really well on Saturday, but I think Dad’s keeping her so I can get my race-day licence behind her. I’ve had seven trial drives and need 25. I should be driving hopefully by the end of the year,” 18 year-old Iremonger said.
“If she does race for us again it will be at the next Cambridge meeting (January 16),” he added.
Iremonger was born in Hamilton and educated at Otumoetai College. When he left school he worked in the restaurant trade in Tokoroa.
“About 15 months ago I started working horses for Dad and then I took on a stablehand’s job full-time last November,” said Iremonger, who still helps out his father, but is employed by Roger Villiger, who is also based at Morrinsville.
He said Opawa Speed (eight wins) was the best horse in his father’s 10-strong stable, followed by Friday’s winner, one-and-a-quarter length winner, Richard Le Fort.
“Dad has a lot of time for ‘Richard’. He’s only had him for five starts. He bought him off Jay Abernethy and has now won twice with him at Alexandra Park. That was a nice drive by Dylan,” Iremonger said.
Richard Le Fort paced the 2700m mobile from gate two in 3:26.7 (mile rate 2:03.2) and came home in 57.3 and 27.6. The three-year-old Jereme’s Jet – Belle’s Girl gelding, who was bred by Max and Frances Bowden in Christchurch, was the $3.70 favourite.
As for Iremonger Senior, he has now trained eight winners from 114 starters and placed 19 times. That is two more than his season best of six he achieved last season.
Iremonger’s season stakes tally of $64,197 is also a personal best since he first took out his trainer’s licence in 1991.
That’s a brilliant achievement considering Iremonger is a former Policeman who also practices Property Law for a living in Tauranga.
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