The harness racing amateur drivers event tonight at Addington Raceway had one highly credentialled runner incuded in the form of Mach Cruiser.
Raced by the Westview Racing number 14 syndicate and trained by Robert Dunn, Mach Cruiser had nine wins on his card prior to tonight and had been racing in strong grade classes in Canterbury.
Even though the gelding by Mach Three had drawn at barrier nine due to his classification, he was heavily supported to win the race.
Part of the condition for a horse of his class to be eligible for the race was to have a claiming price attached which Westview Racing set at $5,000
The experienced and successful amateur Raymond Reekie was in the bike and everything went to plan as Mach Cruiser sped to the front and then proceeded to run the field off their feet.
The 2600 metres from the mobile took a tick over 3:11 to complete which was too much for the lower graded competition and Mach Cruiser bolted in by 2 ¾ lengths.
Ray Reekie, on the lookout for another horse to drive in the amateur races had lodged his claim for $5,000 before the race and was delighted to find out post race that his claim was the only one that had lodged a claim.
However that joy turned to despair shortly after when the stewards told Ray Reekie that his claim for Mach Cruiser was not valid – and the reason— because a driver of a horse in a race cannot claim a horse he is driving.
So Westview Racing number 14 syndicate are still the proud owners of Mach Cruiuser.
Their plans are still the same and Mach Cruiser will be put in the next $7500 amateur drivers race at Addington as a claimer.
However after tonights demolition job in a swift 3:11, there just might be a few more claims lodged against Mach Cruiser at his next appearance than there was tonight.
Harnesslink Media