by Tayler Strong
Dexter Dunn has good chances to give him his second win in the “youth versus experience” drivers series at Waikouaiti on Thursday.
De Vito (R4), Franco Exeter (R5) and Eh Ef Al (R8) are Dunn drives with useful form in the eight-race series. He won the inaugural series in 2014. Zac Butcher won last year.
Bruce Negus and Andrew Faulks, organisers of the series, have attracted additional sponsors for the series this year which will see each of the 12 reinsman wearing the same colours throughout.
De Vito has finished second in his three starts since he won at Ascot Park in January. He ran second to Pegasus Dream at Waikouaiti last month. De Vito is trained by Billy Heads, who is now based at Waikouaiti.
Franco Exeter was a winner on the grass at Westport in December and ran second there on March 4. A 5-year-old, he ran second at Addington in September at his only other start.
“He (Franco Exeter) is a lightly framed horse who needed time and I have just had to wait for him,” said owner Wayne Higgs who has the Lis Mara gelding in the stable of Mark Jones.
The 4-year-old Eh Ef El has had four starts since he began racing in July for two wins at Addington and two placings. The son of Christian Cullen is trained by Ken Barron, who is among the invited drivers. He has drawn Havinaravup against Eh Ef El. Havinaravup has not raced since August, 2014 and he is now trained by Russell Ferguson at Edendale.
Nomattermee and Wandering Star, winners on the grass at Oamaru on Sunday, backing up along with Unyielding Spirit, who finished second. Nomattermee won a C0 pace in dashing style in her first race for 11 months. Wandering Star led for most of the way in a C0 Trot. Unyielding Spirit ran second to Zachary Binx following a win at Methven.
The teams are: Youth (up to 30): Dexter Dunn, Nathan Williamson, Craig Ferguson, Samantha Ottley, Matthew Williamson, Zac Butcher (the winner last year). Experience (50 and over): Lance Justice, Ken Barron, Jim Curtin, David Butcher, Ricky May, Allan Beck.
May drove Wardwell to win a race in an invitation drivers series at Horsham (Victoria) on Monday and Dunn finished second to Kerryn Manning in an international series in Victoria which concluded at Melton last Saturday. Wardwell (Mach Three—Ohappydaze) was bred by Grant Dickey and Lynette Barron(wife of Ken).
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
