by Duane Ranger
Todd Macfarlane has gone past the $200,000 mark in earnings for the eighth time this season – and expect that amount to increase even further at Alexandra Park tonight (Friday).
The Pukekohe horseman has also earned $100,000 every year since 1997-98 and this season he has been driving as good as he ever has been.
“I’ve been getting the odd outside drive which is great. It’s also nice to drive for Brain Hughes when Tony (Herlihy) and Maurice (McKendry) aren’t available.
“I’ve been happy with my season. I just want to keep winning and keep putting those smiles on owners’ faces. I’ve got a couple of nice each-way chances on Friday,” said Macfarlane, who is also the chairman of North Island Trainers and Drivers Association.
Macfarlane has driven 16 winners this season ($212,017) – one more than last year and $37,397 more in stakes.
He has four drives on Friday and here’s what he had to say about the quartet:
Race 1: The Brian Hughes trained Gooddealehemily (1) – “She’s a two-year-old American Ideal filly who had been trialling well going into her first race (June 30). She got stage fright that night and galloped early. She’s normally good off the gate so if she can secure a nice trip then I think she is a nice each-way chance. She feels like a nice type and was second favourite on debut.”
Race 2: The Dave & Clare McGowan trained Stunning Shadow (9) – “He’s going to need a lot of luck from out there. He can be competitive if the breaks go his way, but he will be relying on luck. I’ve won one or two races behind him. First four.”
Race 3: The Ival Brownlee trained Banner Of Art (4) – “I think he can go pretty close to winning tonight because he went really well last week. He showed a lot of gate speed from the ace and if he can repeat that again then I think the race is his for the taking. I’m as confident as I can be, but it’s racing, so each-way.”
Race 8: The Brian Hughes trained Kaitlyn (4) – “It’s a toss-up between her and Ival’s horse as to which one is my best drive of the night. This filly is having her second run back from a spell and even though she went well for second last week she needed the run. She will be a lot better for that on Friday night. You have to remember she had been racing against the best three-year-old girls like Partyon before she spelled. She is a better than the average pacer who seldom goes bad grace. She also has good gait speed. Each-way.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
