Expensive yearling Honor and Glory recouped some of his $170,000 price tag when he impressively won his first race at Ascot Park today (Sunday).
He was bred by local breeder Diane Cournane who shares in the ownership with her husband Noel and The Butterworth Racing Syndicate.
Honor and Glory was originally assigned to Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen’s Rolleston stable after his sale to Merv and Meg Butterworth but because of his size he was never going to race as a young horse.
“I think he was just growing too fast for his body,” said trainer Lauren Pearson who's also a niece of the Cournanes.
The gelding was also trained for a short period by Knapdale trainer Robin Swain.
“He was at Robin's jogging up. He couldn’t get around his track and kept galloping. Thankfully for us Robin recommended that he come here so he could be trained on a big track. We’ve had no problem with him galloping here.”
Honor and Glory winning easily on debut – Photo Bruce Stewart.
Prior to today’s debut the four year old Art Major gelding had won two workouts and two trials, hence his $1.30 starting price.
“The first time he went to the workouts he showed a bit of speed and has just got better and better.”
Pearson and her partner Brent Barclay who drove Honor and Glory, were relatively confident of a good showing today but had question marks around how he would go on the smaller Invercargill track.
“He worked really well with Duke Of Wellington on Tuesday but you can never be too confident. We were just worried about the track and the first bend.”
Brent Barclay, Honor And Glory, Lauren Peason and Diane Cournane – Photo Bruce Stewart.
Meanwhile Pearson is happy with the way Duke Of Wellington went at Friday’s workouts. He won his three horse heat in a good fashion and looks set for another very good season.
“He went real well and we’ll take him back (to the Workouts) again. He’s pulled up well and was bucking and kicking which is not like him.”
Bruce Stewart