Dark Horse was a recent worthy winner of the prestigious harness racing Southland Horse of the Year Award.
She had a stellar season, breaking two track and Southland records. In April she recorded 3-26.7 for the 2700 metre stand at Ascot Park. This was a new mares record for Southland and Ascot Park.
The following month at Winton she ran 2-58.9 for the 2400 metre mobile. This time she set a new mares track, Southland and all-comers record for the province.
Her time has only ever been bettered by Habibti Ivy which holds the New Zealand Record of 2-58.5.
Dark Horse (Bacardi Lindy – Juliana) became the first trotting mare to win the Southland Horse of the Year Award in the past 30 years.
Dark Horse and owners on the Addington track after winning last seasons Uncut Gems
Trainer Nathan Williamson has had Dark Horse back in work for five weeks on a build up towards the New Zealand Cup meeting in November, with the major targets being the Dominion Handicap over 3200m and then hopefully the Rowe Cup later in the season.
Nathan may be forced to start Dark Horse of a long handicap in Southland before heading north to Canterbury, as the mare is now a rating 100 and suitable races in the South will be hard to get off the ground early in the season.
Southland is only two weeks away from their first meeting of the season at Gore on the 27th August.
Stablemate Poppymalda will also head towards the Dominion and other feature races at Addington in November. Also headed north will be nine race winner Tas Man Bromac.
Tas Man Bromac (American Ideal – Tasmcmanian) is currently in work and will follow a similar path of Dark Horse, possibly having one run in the South before racing in Canterbury in the coming months.
Harnesslink Media