Any punters who've seen Splash Cola in her prime are unlikely to have questioned her ability. But a host of minor setbacks have prevented the talented harness racing mare from proving her worth on the racetrack.
In only her fourteenth start over three seasons of racing the six year old trotting mare proved at Ascot Park today she hasn't finished winning yet.
"She got a nice run early being one off the fence. We then moved to the lead and she was just too good. I thought if she trotted today she'd be hard to beat. She's still a day to day proposition so we've got to keep going," said trainer driver Nathan Williamson after the run.
She won by eight lengths and her time of 2-46.2 for the 2200 metre mobile on a wet 7 degree day was outstanding. The track record for mares of 2-45.2 is held by another Williamson runner in Dwindle Mist.
"She's still got a wee way to go fitness wise. She trotted lovely last week and got away from the stand but made a short bobble for about 20 to 30 metres. I was rapt with the way she was trotting. Then Gordie (Gordon Lee on Moment Of Sun) took half the field out with 900 metres to go. A few of them settled down but once she (Splash Cola) galloped that was it. She's quite a good trotter when she does it right."
Today's win was her first since January 2014.
By Sundon out of the Chiola Cola mare Delcola she's owned by Ian Hunter. Her half-sister Delestic by Majestic Son also looks promising. She's won twice from just seven starts.
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing