Two of Southland’s rising harness racing stars are close to resuming.
Captain Dolmio won at the Winton Workouts on Friday beating Better Buy It while The Big Boss is due to head to Winton Workouts next Friday.
The Ray Faithful trained The Big Boss was one of the southern shining lights last season – from four starts he won twice.
His most impressive win was at Ascot Park on Diamonds Day when paced to the front. He had his rival off the bit for most of the trip, winning the 2700 metres in 3-18.2 – a new track record.
“He’s going to Winton for a private workout this weekend and then to the Winton Workouts Friday week. We’re looking at a C2 mobile at Gore or The Riverton Cup or both. He's penciled in for the South of the Waitaki race at Addington at Cup Week but he’ll be ineligible if he wins a race down here,” said Faithful.
The five year old gelding, who is accessed as a C2 horse, is owned by Ken Scott and Jane and Noddy Orr. Faithful says the gelding's had plenty of work and his preparation has been relatively plan sailing.
“His work this morning was good. He had a small blood issue which set him back a week but he seems good now.”
At the end of last season he ventured to Canterbury and galloped away in his race before being pulled up. But there were reasons for his poor showing.
“He was a bit agitated before he went but he worked so well before he left (for Christchurch) we decided to go.He wasn’t right on the night and we discovered a few days later he had an abscess on one of his feet.”
After that run he was left in Canterbury to spell.
“We left him up in Canterbury for five to six weeks thinking that it was drier up there. He didn’t let down that well so we learnt from that.”
Faithful said although he thought about putting the hopples back on the free legged pacer they've been quickly discarded.
“We had plans to put the hopples back on him this time in but I worked him once in them and he doesn’t like them so we’ll leave them off. He’ll stay on the unruly which gives him a bit of room.”
Faithful is only working a small team at Ascot Park and he has a three year old half-brother to The Big Boss. He's by Mach Three and called Mach O’Mellay and is owned by the Orrs and Faithful.
“I quite like him but he needs time so we’ll give him a workout, flick him out and bring him back for racing later in the season.”
His latest recruit is Laughing Cavalier who was left at the stable after running last in the claimers race on Saturday.
“He’s a bit better than that. Tracee (partner Tracee Sherborne) is riding him so we’ll see.”
Also on the good news front, quality gelding Captain Dolmio is close to starting a new season.
In his first full season of racing he started thirteen times for four wins, three seconds and two thirds. His most impressive performance was at Addington in early April when he won by five and a half lengths in 3-07.7 for the 2600 metre mobile (1-56.1 mile rating).
“He’ll have a couple more workouts and we’re thinking Tuapeka, Ashburton and then Cup Week. He’s a lot stronger this year. He’s pretty lazy at home so it’s good to have a hit out in company (at the workouts),” said his trainer Matt Brinsdon.
The Grinfromeartoear five year old comes back as a C3 horse.
“He’ll go to Canterbury early and get settled in. He stays at John Dunn's. We haven't finalised a driver yet but that’s not a bad problem to have.”
Captain Dolmio returning after winning on Diamonds Day – Photo Bruce Stewart
Meanwhile Tact Ollie has been bought out of the Trevor Proctor's Winton stable by North Island trainer Peter Blanchard.
The five year by Badland’s Hanover impressed at Winton when running second behind the talented Crime Scene.
“I’m not sure what Peter’s plans are for him. He’s a nice horse. He fell over as a two year old. Didn’t do anything at three and qualified as a four year old when he had mud fever which took two months to clear,” said Proctor.
Tact Ollie is the first and only foal of the Christian Cullen mare Tact Aunty. Tact Aunty was Proctor’s first winner at Ascot Park in January 2008.
By Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness