Harness racing can be cruel at times as John Dunn well knows.
The stable star two year old Code Black has been short on luck the whole season and having to start in the Sires Stakes consolation tonight at Addington (May 15th) instead of the big dance later in the night just about summed up the son of Bettors Delight's season.
Code Black was a top third in the Young Guns final in early March but needed a break after that series which meant he only got one shot at a sires stakes heat in which he was very unlucky not to finish a lot closer than sixth.
So even though he is more than capable of holding his own against the very best going around, tonight Code Black started in the $17,000 Sires Stakes consolation.
Drawing barrier eight tonight meant John took Code Black off the gate and he settled last in the running line.
Approaching the 1400 metres mark John sent Code Black forward and he worked to the death seat outside the leader Ice Crusher with 1000 metres to go.
John applied some more pressure as they turned for home and Code Black burst clear before having to withstand a late challenge from the hot favourite Cash N Flow and Mark Purdon but he still had half a length to spare when the winning post came up.
Sparkling Delight and Gerard O'Reilly battled on well for third.
Code Black paced the 1950 metres in 2:25.6 with closing sectionals of 59.1 and 27.9 which was good going in the slushy conditions.
John Dunn was happy the horse had showed everyone what he was capable of.
" He went huge in the Sales race last week running on from well back on a 26.6 quarter.
" If we had had some luck in our Sires Stakes heat he would have been in the final and not the consolation."
"I am really glad for the owners who buy one every year at the sales so they deserve a good result like this."
John is resigned to losing Code Black as he is under offer and will be vetted tomorrow.
" The money is good but not as much as you would think but it is so hard to win those big age group races so the sale makes sense," John said.
Code Black was one of the few two year olds around this season who was capable of mixing with the All Stars runners so his sale won't help age group racing in Canterbury.
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