Harness racing is brutal on young sires who don't do a job right from the start and such has been the fate of the recently deceased Raffaello Ambrosio who served just eight mares last season after failing to fire with small early crops.
Tonight one of his twelve live two year olds showed what might have been with a very smart win in the two year old trot at Addington in Christchurch.
Conon Bridge is a colt from Diedre's Girl who is a race winning half sister to Hurricane Flyer ($143,137) and the former smart juvenile trotter Thanksgiving.
Starting from the unruly position, driver Bob Butt settled Conon Bridge five back on the inner early before setting him alight after 350 metres and shot him forward to have a look for the lead.
Mark Jones on the leader Arannalea was having none of it but the brief speed duel left enough room for Bob to drop Conon Bridge into the trail.
Wilma's Mate ranged up to Arannalea on the corner who promptly broke leaving Wilma's Mate in front after which Bob angled Conon Bridge out into the clear and he cruised past Wilma's Mate with 100 metres to go and went to the line an easy winner.
Wilma's Mate held second from All Star Angus who didn't help his chances by running about in the straight when looking a chance 200 metres out.
Conon Bridge trotted the 1950 metres from the mobile in 2:32.2, a mile rate of 2:05.5 with closing sectionals of 59.4 and 28.6
Bob Butt has a high opinion of the Paul Nairn trained juvenile.
" He won that really easily tonight and that was after doing plenty of work early."
" When he got to the front he knocked off or else he would have won by a lot more."
" He will come off the unruly at some point and should be a major player in all the big races coming up," Bob said.
Raffaello Ambrosio may have battled for support since being imported but he looks to have produced one very smart trotter in Conon Bridge.
Harnesslink Media