Champion New Zealand jockey James McDonald is not a name usually associated with harness racing but that will all change tonight at Alexandra Park when the Angus Hall debutante Angus Bolt steps onto the track for the first time.
Offered at last years Australasian Classic yearling sale by Brent Mangos and long time stable patron Warren Oliver, Angus Bolt was retained by his vendors when he failed to make his reserve price.
From the former smart two year old trotting filly Strapless, Angus Bolt was given a few runs at workouts earlier in the season for educational purposes and put aside.
This time in he has impressed trackwatchers in the north with a string of impressive runs at trials and workouts and has won his last four in style.
Brent has a good opinion of his young trotter.
" He is a really nice sensible trotter and I think quite a bit of him."
" We will give him a couple of runs now and then give him a brief letup"
" I think after Christmas we will line him up against the better age group trotters and I think he will more than hold his own," Brent said.
James McDonald entered into the horse's ownership a few months back.
" James is good friends with my daughter Angela and mentioned to me a while ago that he would like a share in one.
" I have always liked Angus Bolt so I sold him a piece of my half share and thats how he became involved," Brent said.
With James McDonald one of the pin up jockeys of the thoroughbred racing scene worldwide , his involvement in Angus Bolt has the potential to generate a lot of positive publicity for the harness racing industry in New Zealand.
Another horse Brent has high hopes for tonight is Vibhuti.
" I have always had an opinion of this horse but he disappointed me at the end of his last campaign."
" We gelded him two months ago and he has really turned the corner lately."
"His work recently has been super and with a little bit of luck from the draw he is well up to winning tonight," Brent said.
Harnesslink Media