By Jonny Turner
Harness racing fans were left with more questions than answers when Mataderos came out on top in a clash of some of the country’s top trotters at Addington on Friday night.
Last year’s Dominion runner-up behind his stablemate Sundees Son, Mataderos got his campaign back on track amid bizarre scenes, finding his manners again after a shock gallop in his previous race day start.
With his rivals Oscar Bonavena, Matua Tana and My Moment’s Now all galloping early, an odd but nonetheless thrilling race was effectively run in two pelotons.
Mataderos never put a foot wrong, but as he cruised to victory under a hold by John Dunn it still looked like his camp has some work to do to get him trotting as well as he was last spring.
“It was heart in the mouth stuff really,” Robert Dunn admitted.
“But it was a great drive by Johnny.”
“When he runs out, as we know he gets a little bit off balance.”
“There is still a little bit of work to do with him.”
“But overall it was a good result for the owner, Jamie (MacKinnon) and I am sure we have got time to get him spot on for the Dominion.”
Chief Of Staff showed he was ready to replicate his outstanding spring form from last year when charging home into second behind Mataderos, in a big fresh up effort.
The Fox took third ahead of Oscar Bonavena who ran home stylishly after little part in the race after his early mistake put him in the race’s second peloton.
Just a matter of a few hours after Mataderos’s victory his little brother The Locomotive trotted to a Group 2 victory at Melton.
Both trotters are out of the brilliant former racemare, La Coocaracha.
B D Joe got his spring campaign off to the best possible start when racing to victory in Friday night’s feature pace.
The former Harness Jewels winner settled last from his 30m back mark with Benjamin Butcher taking the favourite to the lead with a lap to go.
B D Joe was barely tested in the home straight showing he is right on track for a New Zealand Cup tilt, if trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer choose to aim him that way.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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