Harness racing owner Rob Paterson has had a lot of success over the years from Group 1 level down to maiden wins and the run shows no sign of stopping yet.
Habibti has been his biggest winner and after a trial win in Melbourne last week she is about to start another Australian campaign.
Lothario has been going great guns up north and BD Love is due to fire up again.
Today Rob was at Westport with half a dozen friends with whom he races the four year old Bettor's Delight gelding Bettor Be Smooth.
Bob bred Bettor Be Smooth from the race winning Presidential Ball mare Smooth Moon and intrusted its early education to young North Canterbury trainer Bob Butt.
“ Bob rang me up one day and told me he really liked Bettor Be Smooth.”
“So I thought I would bring half a dozen of my friends into the ownership so I sold them 40% of the horse.
“ He was going good 12 months ago but was just a bit immature so we put him aside for a good break,” Rob told Harnesslink today.
Bettor Be Smooth had a long build up this season with the plan being to line up on the first day of the Westport Xmas meeting and today the plan came to fruition.
After being settled three back in the running line by driver John Dunn, Bettor Be Smooth swept to the front with just over a lap to run.
Attacked for most of the last lap by Patrick Bee, Bettor Be Smooth was a sitting duck as he turned for home in front.
Briefly headed by Paddy McCole late in the piece, Bettor Be Smooth fought back courageously for a half head win.
Bettor Be Smooth paced the 2600 metres on the grass in 3:22.1 with closing sectionals of 62.2 and 30.1
Rob was thrilled with run.
“He really showed he has got plenty of bottom to him.”
“To be attacked like that for the last lap and then to fight back when headed was a huge effort.”
“I have got a half brother by Art Major at home that I have a lot of time for and the mare is back in foal to Art Major, so things are looking good,” Rob said.
Rob has had a great run over the last few years and it doesn't look like it is coming to an end anytime soon.
Bettor Be Smooth
Harnesslink Media