It wasn’t quite like the late 1980s and 1990s when Todd Macfarlane was driving like a man possessed behind Special Force and Mac De Stroyer, but the Franklin reinsman showed he still hasn’t lost his prowess in the sulky at Cambridge Raceway last night (Friday).
MacFarlane was the most successful driver at the Harness Racing Waikato meeting, steering home two winners and a close-up second from the seven races carded.
He had good wins behind Better B Amazed (race 3) and The Lone Ranger (race 7), and was a head-second behind Youshallnotpass in the sixth event.
He only had three drives.
“It’s just good to be driving a better quality of horse now and I’m grateful to Steve, Chris and Stonewall Stud for the opportunities. Both horses I won behind have very promising futures,” the Pukekohe horseman said.
MacFarlane made the favourite punters happy when he drove the Steve Telfer and Chris Garlick trained duo to victory. Better B Amazed paid $1.60 while The Lone Ranger returned $2.50.
“Better B Amazed has always been a good pacer while The Lone Ranger has had ability but is only starting to realise it. I think they will both be in for very good seasons. I hope the stable keeps me on, because it’s been a while since I’ve sat behind good ones like these two,” he said.
Macfarlane shot Better B Amazed around to the front 300m into their 1700m mobile from their widest front-row draw of seven, and from that point the race was for second.
The talented 5-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Amazed stopped the clock in 2:02.4 (mile rate 1:55.9) and home in 56 even and 26.7.
She had three quarters of a length and two and three quarter lengths to spare over place-getters, Lusty Mac (Philip Butcher) and Kenrick (David Butcher).
It was her seventh win from 11 starts at Cambridge and 13th from 37 overall. Her stake earnings now sit at $125,755.
"Any horse that can go a 1:55 mile rate has to be better than average. She's proved in the past that she's not far away from the top mares in New Zealand. She's a really nice pacer," Macfarlane said.
While Better Be Amazed has confirmed her status as a quality standardbred, Macfarlane said The Lone Ranger still had some way to go.
“I think the penny has finally clicked with him. Being gelded recently has obviously improved his manners. He’s always had a bit of a reputation and I think he should go on with it now.
“The way he won last night was impressive. He is a high calibre pacer in the making and if he can run in amongst the field in future he certainly has the sprint to get over the top of some of the good ones,” Macfarlane said.
Macfarlane eased the son of Sportswriter and Cruzee Lass away from his unruly second line draw and settled near the rear.
Then with a lap remaining Macfarlane sent the 3-year-old three wide without cover and that’s where he stayed until the finish.
“That was a gutsy performance. He kept giving and near the line I put the stick away. If he keeps racing like that he’s going to whip through the grades okay. It’s just a matter of nursing him early at this stage and then putting him in the race.”
The Lone Ranger paced the 2200m mobile in 2:44.6 (mile rate 2:00.4) and sprinted his last 800m and 400m in 58.1 and 28 even.
He had a length and a length to spare over second favourite Sem's Delight (Philip Butcher) and Stars delight (David Butcher).
The Lone Ranger has now won two of his two of his 13 starts and placed in three others for $22,973. In January last year he made a nice debut winning in 2:43.5 (1:59.6 mile rate). That was also at Cambridge Raceway
“It’s all about confidence with him now and I think he gained a lot of that tonight. He’s an exciting type who is certainly better than what he has shown in recent starts,” said Macfarlane, who is the chairman of the North Island Trainers and Drivers Association.
Duane Ranger