07 June 2021 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Lightly race five-year-old entire, Shandyman, added a splash of colour to Sunday’s Hobart meeting when the skewbald pacer broke his maiden status at his third race track appearance.
Prepared at Westbury by trainer Michael Laugher, the Mr Feelgood entire settled one-out and two-back from his second-row draw before reinsman Conor Crook asked the $51 chance for the supreme effort from the 500-metre point.
Shandyman proved too tough for Szabolski Leis and the race favourite Lily Rocks, who was doing her best work late in 2m 2.0s.
“He is probably starting to learn a bit about racing now,” said trainer Michael Laugher after the race.
“The first time we took him to the races, we were embarrassed as he went that bad, he was working well at home leading up to that race, he was on the bit well tonight, so there may be some improvement there with racing experience,” explained the winning trainer.
Shandyman was purchased by former participant and passionate harness racing supporter Peter Ackroyd as a foal, off breeder Kerrie Hymers.
Unfortunately, Peter passed away in late 2017, but his brother Tony and fellow owners Jack Laugher and Bridget and Dean Glover decided to persevere with the pacer.
“He was going ok as a two-year-old, but then he did a tendon and was put in the paddock and was left out there for a long time. The lady that had the paddock he was in wanted to shut it up for hay, so we had to go and get him and I thought we would give him another go,” said Laugher.
Laugher also added that the pacer returned to his stables big in condition and that the pacer had been in work for at least seven months.
He also indicated that he would continue to find suitable races in the future with the skewbald pacer.
The win of Shandyman was the middle leg of a driving treble for Conor Crook, who scored on two-year-old filly Extrinsic at her race track debut. His other winner was aboard Iden Gorgeous, who scored first-up up from a break.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
