Tough staying trotter Speeding Spur went back to back in the Gr1 $90,000 NZ Trotting Championships tonight by leading all the way and proving too strong at the finish for harness racing driver Josh Dickie.
In last years edition of the race Speeding Spur led and stuck his nose out at the right time to win narrowly and this year was a repeat of that with the Pegasus Spur horse lasting by a neck from a game Sundees Son who broke late when challlenging him close to the line.
An emotional Josh Dickie gave credit to the horses toughness after the race,
"This horses courage is unbelievable really," he said.
"We have had a bit of an up and down campaign since winning the Free For All here during Cup Week.
"I was quite happy to just pull back last week and let him run home, but tonight we wanted to lead up and let him dictate like he likes to do.
"Dad and I had confidence in him and he has backed that up tonight," he said
Speeding Spur trotted the 2600m mobile in a slick 3-17.9 in the wet conditions with a last 800m in 58 seconds with a closing 400m in 29.6 seconds.
Earlier in the night young harness racing driver Bob Butt caused a major boilover in the Gr1 $100,000 New Zealand Trotting Derby when Lotamuscle downed the hot favourite Enhance Your Calm and Mark Purdon right on the line.
On a slushy track made wet by continual afternoon rain Lotamuscle settled three deep on the fence while the hotpot Enhance Your Calm rolled straight to the lead and set a solid pace with no mid race attackers.
In the straight and it looked like the favourite was home until Butt wound up the Paul Nairn trained Lotamuscle and he sprouted wings in the last 50m to win by a nose.
Lotamuscle trotted the mobile 2600m mobile in 3-20.8 with a closing 800m in 58.9 and final 400m in 28.2 seconds.
The win gave Bob Butt his first Group One success on New Zealand soil.
Lotamuscle winning the NZ Trotting Derby
Harnesslink Media