Especial lived up to her name at Ascot Park on Saturday when with the perfect trip she got the perfect result in the 1700 metre Join The Tri Code Syndicate Fillies & Mares Mobile.
One of seven fillies in the 12-horse lineup, the daughter of Christian Cullen was parked briefly before getting the one-one after 300 metres. A lap later the trail horse dropped off, Especial immediately took her spot and when the passing lane arrived, shot clear on debut like a real professional.
According to winning driver Matt Anderson it was effortless but not quite as polished as it seemed.
“She is still green and when she hit the front all but pulled up,” he said.
Bred and raced by Kenny and Jo Baynes, Especial is out of Especial Franco, member of a family Kenny Baynes was keen to have a bit of. He bought Especial's half brother Extra Special Iam, was under-bidder on another half brother Equalizer and tried over the phone to buy yet another, Expressionist. Soon after, Especial Franco was advertised in the Harness Weekly and the Baynes bought her.
Envious, five wins and also a winner on debut at Invercargill, was the mare's first foal for them and Especial the next. She is trained at Gore by Tony Stratford who has had to be patient.
“She's had a few niggly issues, just wee things like mud fever that set you back, the time's probably helped her though,” he said, “she's only had one workout and one trial, this was her third run. She's beautiful to sit behind, the Christian Cullen gait and she's got gas, a pretty nice filly, could be an open class mare in 18 months.”
Nathan Williamson was the only driver to strike twice, winning two of the three trotting races. First up was a mare he trains himself, Splash Cola in the McKnight & Brown Mobile Trot and she did it style, clearing out by eight lengths to score her first win since January 2015. It was the fourth win for the mare having just her fourth start since being away from racing for more than two years.
“She's had numerous injuries, was too fresh in her first two comeback races then was knocked and broke on Monday,” Williamson said, “she's still improving, I'll keep her going now.”
Splash Cola completed the 2200 metres from behind the mobile in 2:46.8, The Williamson trained and driven Dwindle Mist set the track record of 2:45.2 in December 2014.
Sundons Wish, trained by Ian Jamieson, backed up from his win on Monday to take the Thanks To Our Volunteers Handicap. Williamson replaced Dexter Dunn in the sulky on Saturday.
Matt Purvis, the former Canterbury junior driver who joined the Williamson enterprise at the beginning of the season, broke through for his first win in Southland when guiding Dancing In The Dark to victory in the Pinelea Farm Fillies & Mares Mobile Pace. Trained by Robert Dunn,the mare is co-owned by Matt's father, John Purvis and has been staying with Williamson.
She is a half sister to Born To Run, a two year old trained by Williamson and driven by Purvis for a second and a fourth in his only two starts. Purvis said the juvenile is spelling at the moment and will be back as a three year old, and he himself is also staying on.
“I'm flatting in a house at Tisbury with Craig Ferguson and Sheree Tomlinson, that made it an easy transition,” Purvis said, “I've enjoyed my time in the south, plenty of opportunities, a lot to learn from Nathan, a pleasure to work with such good horses.”
Purvis has now won three times on Dancing In The Dark and advanced his career tally to 34.
“It was good to get a win in the south and one for Dad,” he concluded.
Mac Henry