Harness racing trainer Gary McEwan never gave up on trotter Our Budd a longshot winner at Winton yesterday.
He was the rank outsider of the thirteen horse field in the Cox Family Trot but the win didn't surprise his trainer.
“He’d been working really well and going some good races but he’s a difficult horse to drive and if you get in behind on the rails anything can happen. You just have to be out in clear air. It just suited him good today. He stepped well in not a very strong field and got it done,” said McEwan.
After the horse warmed up McEwan decided that if the seven year old stepped he was going to take the veteran of thirty five starts and just one win straight to the front.
“He warmed up quietly and you could have driven him on a piece of cotton wool. I thought the best option was that if he stepped we’d go to the front and keep rolling along.”
The trotter opened by a sizeable lead and clung on to win by a head from Topnotch Eagle.
Our Budd holding on to beat Topnotch Eagle Photo Bruce Stewart
Our Budd has had a number of trainers including Leo O'Reilly, Ray Jenkins and Allan Beck with whom he started his career.
He's been a tricky character for all his trainers but today was his day and due reward goes to McEwan for his perseverance.
“The other day in town he galloped at the half mile and I couldn’t hang onto him any longer. He would have gone over the horse clean in front of him so I ran the bit through his mouth to try and settle him down and I just exited through the pylons to safety."
McEwan says the horse may struggle to take the next step down here and says the geldings future maybe in the North Island where he sees the horse as being much better right handed.
The win also triggered memories for McEwan who remembers riding for the late Harry Cox in saddle trots many years ago.
In the main trot of the day the Robert Wilson trained Spotlight The Valley broke a track record for mares over 2400 metres from the stand when she beat former record holder Moment Of Sun by half a length. The new record is now 3-02.1
Meanwhile the 'display of the day' in the trotting ranks came from hot favourite War Admiral in the first race when he went into a wild gallop while coming up the main straight. Unfortunately he lost all chance but judging from his trial success he should turn into a nice trotter.
War Admiral breaking mid race Photo by Bruce Stewart
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing