Kurow HRC review

NZ HARNESS NEWS

Bite The Bullet and driver John Dunn bagged the $14,500 Kurow Cup when they sprinted home in 26.4sec for their last 400m, edging out comeback mare New Years Jay yesterday at Oamaru.

Bite The Bullet led early from 10 metres back and Dunn controlled the pace nicely, keeping $2.30 win favourite James Dean parked out with a lap left and brushing home in 56.4sec for their last 800m, clocking a modest 3:23.4 for the 2600m stand.

It was the five-year-old Mach Three gelding’s second straight win at Oamaru and his sixth overall, for just over $50,000 in stakes.

Talented 10-year-old mare New Years Jay, having her first race for a year, flew home from last of the six runners and only missed by a head, with the trail horse Glenferrie Classic third, ahead of James Dean.

Earlier, Woodend Beach-based junior driver Ben Hope won his first career race when the aptly-named Benhope Rulz shot down the outside when clear to win race two.

Hope is the son of leading trainers Greg and Nina Hope and had been narrowly beaten on the horse in his first race drive at Addington two weeks ago.

The three-year-old Courage Under Fire-Victoria Rulz gelding made a safe start and Hope soon pushed him to the front, then trailed Megawatt.

Benhope Rulz ($1.60) was in trouble when Megawatt faded turning in and Hope did well to drag him wide and finish over the top in the last 100m, winning by 1 1/4 lengths in 3:22 for the 2600m stand.

Hope, 18, wore a black armband in memory of the late Kiwi trainer Ray Sharpe, his mother’s cousin, who lost his battle with kidney cancer this week.

Promising three-year-old The Dorchester overcame a tough trip to make it two wins from two starts for rookie Rangiora trainer Mitchell Kerr and driver Blair Orange, taking out a rolling start 2000m in 2:27.8.

With the mobile out of action due to Sportscaster banging the gate in an earlier race and breaking an hydraulic arm, The Dorchester ($1.60), drawn on the outside of the front line, took fright at the clerk of the course’s grey mount as he guided the field to the start and broke up, failing to settle.

A false start was called and the clerk of the course went to the inside for the second start, The Dorchester settling fourth-last and three wide with cover, behind eventual runner-up Wobbegong, before Orange took him up parked at the 900m.

He powered home the last 400m in 28.9s to win comfortably, underlining Kerr’s belief that the Mach Three colt could make a Derby horse later in the season.