Rangiora trainer Andrew Stuart believes his Wellington Cup winner (yesterday), Pay Me Visa, can back up and win tomorrow’s (Sunday) Otaki Cup as well.
The 5-year-old McArdle gelding was an easy winner of the Kapiti Coast Harness Racing Club’s feature from 10 metres behind at Otaki yesterday (Friday), and will start from the same handicap in the Otaki Cup.
Both races were worth $10,000 but tomorrow’s Otaki Cup is a 3000m stand compared to the 2200m stand he won yesterday.
“I’ve always believed in him. In fact when the previous owners pulled out of the ownership when he was three I took over.
“I have no doubts that he can back up. He proved that at Nelson earlier this month when finishing a good third on the first day and then winning two days later on the same track,” Stuart said.
“I have a lot of faith in him, and he has proved me right. Not too many horses win seven races,” he added.
Stuart has claimed several Country Cups in the South Island but the Wellington Trotting Cup was his first in the North Island.
“I’m proud of him. Any Cup is a good Cup to win. He’s an honest wee horse who can sometimes hit his knee, but lately he’s been putting his legs in the right places.
“I was rapt with his run yesterday. The 3000m stand won’t bother him on Sunday. He’s won five races from the stand now. The big roomy tracks suit his racing style and I think people forget he has gone a 1.56 mile at Rangiora,” Stuart said.
Kyle Marshall drove Pay me Visa splendidly on Friday. They never really looked like losing, pacing the 2200m stand in 2:53.3 (mile rate 2:06.7) and home in 60.9 and 31.5.
Pay me Visa was the $3.80 favourite and had three-and-a-quarter lengths and a neck to spare over roughie Extra Guinness (Brent Weaver) and Fleeting Grin (Peter Ferguson).
Stuart never made the trip north. Instead leaving the bay gelding in the hands of Pat and Mike O’Brien in Blenheim.
“I left him in Blenheim and Mike took him north. Mike has done an awesome job with him and young Kyle has done equally as well. I couldn’t be happier. he’s the only horse I sent north,” Stuart said.
Stuart said he also got one over his good thoroughbred training mate, Gary Vile.
“He trained Jacksstar (Cameron Lammas) to finish second in the recent Wellington (galloping) Cup, and I went one better. I might have him on about it.
“I know the Wellington Cup is no longer raced at Hutt Park, but there’s a lot of history about the race, and it’s an honour to win the second Cup back after a recess. It means a lot,” Stuart said.
The North Canterbury conditioner said Pay Me Visa would continue to race in all the Country Cup races in the North island, starting with the Tauranga Grass Cup on February 5.
Meanwhile, the other highlight of the meeting came from South Auckland reinsman, Sailesh Abernethy, who drove three of the eight winners on Friday’s card.
He won behind the Keith Chittenden trained Above The Rest in the first race; the Murray Gibbs trained Cerberus in race three; and the Doug Gale trained P Tomado in the fourth event.
Older brother Jay, also won behind the Todd Macfarlane trained Millview Sienna in race two.
The toughest for Pay Me Visa to beat in tomorrow's Boundary/Deans & Associates Otaki Cup will be the Arna Donnelly trained Eldolar (Mark Johnson) and the Andrew & Lyn Neal trained back-marker (30m) Beyond The Silence.
Duane Ranger