The first of this season's non tote races for two year old trotters in the South Island was held at the harness racing meeting at Addington this evening and as expected a couple of the stock of Muscle Mass ran the quinella though maybe not in the order that most pundits had expected.
The filly Willie McGoogan in the hands of part owner Matthew Williamson led early from barrier one as most of the rest of the field trotted rough or broke.
The Roddy Butt trained Custodian had a short gallop early with driver David Butt letting him find his feet before settling third in the running line.
Willie McGoogan looked to have them in trouble across the top but when Custodian was switched back to the passing lane in the straight, he quickly got on terms and was half a head to the good at the finish.
Five and a half lengths away Eyrish Mist and Dexter Dunn held on well for third in front of another daughter of Muscle Mass in Needle.
Roddy Butt was impressed with the effort from his inexperienced young trotter.
" He has never galloped at trials or workouts but most of those around him were offstride tonight and I think he just reacted to what was happening around him."
" After that he has trotted really well and it was a good effort to pick the leader up," Roddy Butt.
Plans are in place for the gelding to take on the better two year old trotters later in the season but first he is due a short break.
" If we don't give him a couple of weeks off now, then he won't get a break for the rest of the season."
" I think he is good enough to be competitive against the good ones later on if I look after him now," Roddy said.
Willie McGoogan was game in second and was fighting back strongly at the finishing line.
Matthew Williamson was happy with the run but not so much his own drive.
" She has done everything right and was coming again at the finishing line but maybe I have driven her a bit quiet."
" I think if I had put the pressure on a lot further out, she may have won the race."
" Having said that, Roddy's horse has gone great because we have got home in 28.1 off the front and he has come from off the pace," Matthew said.
With a couple from the All Star barn going super at the trials as well as a Love You colt from the Paul Nairn barn, suggests that this years two year trotters division looks to have a lot of depth to it.
Harnesslink Media