By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Bruce Negus was left scratching his head after yesterday’s races at Addington.
Not because of anything bad – he just couldn’t fathom how much his two winners ended up paying.
Classie Linc led all the way in winning the Renwick Farms Mobile Pace for Sam Thornley, paying $11.60 and a race later Paige ($24.90) won the Denis Thanks Diamond Racing Mobile Trot for Sheree Tomlinson.
“I just couldn’t believe what they were paying,” says Negus.
The Race 4 – Race 5 double paid $210.50.
Classie Linc made it win number five from start 32 after a win and a second in her three previous starts. In between time she was pulled up at Westport on March 10.
“She jumped the crossing at Westport.”
“She’s eccentric,” says Negus, “but she can run like anything, she’s very fast and has good stamina.”
After her second at Motukarara last Sunday he was hopeful she’d deliver.
“I was chasing a penalty free win and she dropped a rating band to R45 and for a mare of her talent I could not understand the price.”
Paige was 9/11 in the betting in her race.
And thanks to a patient drive from Sheree Tomlinson, who works for Negus, she got home by half a neck. She was three and four back the fence before getting the perfect split turning for home, to just beat favourite Kowhai Sundown.
“She’s a very good driver… and she won the race with those shortcuts.”
Paige had hinted a win was not far away with a second to stablemate Buffy Northstains at Reefton on March 12 before breaking up at the start at Motukarara last Sunday.
“She has real speed.”
“That was her first mobile in a year ..her price didn’t make sense.”
“She’ll now head to a 20 K mobile next week (Addington).”
Also adding to Negus’ successful day was Mark Dunnett’s third in the last, paying $6.10 a place.
“I thought he’d had been treading water and that was his best run this time in,” says Negus.
Classie Linc and Mark Dunnett will go to the grass at Oamaru on Sunday.
“I’d be surprised if Classie Linc wasn’t in the money there and hopefully Mark Dunnett has turned the corner.”
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