NZ HARNESS NEWS
Hamish Hunter produced the winners of two races at Wyndham this afternoon (Sunday) and one of them is missing an eye.
Maidonthebeach lost one of her eyes in a breaking-in accident before she joined Hunter, who says she has adapted well.
The area is covered to protect it from grit and doesn’t affect her.
By Somebeachsomewhere the four-year-old is the third foal of the good mare Nursemaid, winner of 14 races, $195,292, the 2004 Southland Oaks and three races at the 2005 New Zealand Cup carnival.
Some lower suspensory filling on the eve of the 2007 Ashburton Flying Stakes ended Nursemaid’s racing career.
Her first foal, Devil May Care, won 11 and her second, Groomsman, has eight on the board.
After today, Maidonthebeach has four, far exceeding Hunter’s early expectations.
“She has been the slowest to get going,” he said.
“She wouldn’t have made a hair on her mother’s tail when she started. A slow improver but more this season than last.”
Hunter’s first winner was Iwanadancewitsumbody, an Auckland Reactor filly raced by the Night N Day Racing Syndicate on lease from Alabar (NZ) Ltd.
“She was broken in by Sean McCaffery and is a high-tempo horse.”
Lawrence Night N Day operator, Owen Cameron, himself a former harness license-holder, manages the syndicate which comprises a number of franchise holders in Southland and Otago.
Completing a good day for Hunter was his promising three-year-old Vin Scully, place favourite and runner up in the $12,000 Nugget final.
The race was won by the win favourite Henry Hubert but not before putting frowns on his supporters’ faces.
Trained by Robert Dunn and driven by his son John, the three-year-old drew one for the second time in two Southland starts.
In his previous outing at Invercargill, he galloped. Today, he caused a false start by not keeping up on the gate and denying the following horse a fair start.
“He gets all fired up from the one draw,” said John Dunn, who chose to go from the unruly for the re-run.
After being restrained early, Dunn took Henry Hubert to the front inside the 800 and held on comfortably.
Three-year-old trotter Majestic Connies dominated the Gold Chip final in the hands of Matthew Williamson but his trainer Phil Williamson said it was too early to label him a Derby prospect.
“One step at a time,” he said.
“he’s a nice horse and will mature but he’s still got to show he’s up to the Derby.”
- NZ Harness News
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