By Duane Ranger
Expect more winners from the Michael House stable at Manawatu this season.
The Canterbury trainer currently has five horses in Palmerston North for the Manawatu Harness Racing Club’s two-day meeting and more will follow as the season progresses.
“The stakes have held up and the club is very accommodating. I’m happy to travel with my team there. I’ve got two trucks and it’s never been cheaper to cross Cook Straight on the Ferry.
“The HRNZ subsidy also makes it worthwhile. It’s probably costs just as much as what it would if I was travelling to Forbury. I’ve got the quality of horse to race there. I’ve also found a driver which makes the travelling issue a lot easier,” House said.
By driver, he didn’t mean reinsman. He meant truckie.
In fact the country’s leading driver Dexter Dunn ensured House had two wins, two seconds and a third from five starters at last night’s (Thursday) meeting.
They won with Bet Pray Love in the first event and McArdle Royale in the sixth race. They also ran second with Waihemo Art in race three and Hazel Alice in race 10, while Atom Hanover ran third in race seven.
“I’ve had some bad luck stories at Manawatu over the years but last night was pretty satisfying. I think they will all go well on the second day (Saturday), especially the trotter Hazel Alice, who made up a lot of ground to run second,” House said.
House said he was working a team of 40 and had several horses that would be suited to Manawatu and possibly Cambridge. He said he even had a horse or two that would relish the Alexandra Park right-handed way around.
“I’ve got a big bunch of 3-year-olds and would like to race them, but you never know with me I could end up selling them.
“I have five at Palmerston North and after the second day I’ll send more up for future meetings. It makes sense and getting drivers is not a problem especially now that Dexter is keen to get there as much as he can.
“He half-pie gears them and does a great job for me. When you’ve got the best behind your horses then you’ve got some chance then haven’t you,” House said.
“If he isn’t available I’ve always got top North island drivers who I can call on,” he added.
House has now trained five winners from 44 starters this season and has also recorded six seconds and three thirds. Last year he was victorious 12 times.
Last night’s feature race – the Cartown Mobile for C2-C6 pacers was blown wide open when favourite Art I Special broke badly on the home turn
That left the pace-making Brainstormer and Sailesh Abernethy to win the 2000m mobile by a length and nose from Irish Kath (Peter Ferguson) and Maloo (Philip Butcher).
The 5-year-old McArdle gelding stopped the clock in 2:33.2 (mile rate 2:03.2) with final 800m and 400m sprints of 58.4 and 28 even.
It was Brainstormer’s fourth win in 40 starts and Bulls trainer Doug Gale’s first win from seven attempts this season.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
