Scaife had five accepted for the Franklin Trotting Club's grass track meeting at Pukekohe Park, but he never made it to South Auckland. He had another 11 horses to work back home.

A grass track specialist, Scaife has gone boots and all into training this season. He previously drove for his horse transport company and trained a few in between. These days he allocates much of the driving work so he can work his team seven days a week on Foxton Beach.

"I work my horses hard on the beach and as a result they turn into stayers. That's why I've had a bit of success on grass tracks this season. At the start of 2009-2010 I said to myself if I'm going to do it properly then I'm going to have to go full on and work seven days," Scaife said.

Scaife has trained standardbreds since Harness Racing New Zealand's records started in the 1985-86 season. Up until this season his previous best was 11 wins in the 1989-90 season. He rated 5-year-old Artiscape gelding, Arts Bo, as his current stable star.

"He's won four of his last five now starts now and I have always rated him highly. He's a really good stayer who might be better than a grass track horse. He went a 27.3 final quarter today which suggests he could do alright on the all-weather tracks. His staying ability is undoubtedly his strength," Scaife said.

Arts Bo started from a 10m handicap and Zac Butcher had the bay gelding three-deep on the markers going out the straight the first time and it was his economical drive throughout the 2300m stand which ensured a close half head and nose victory.

"He's a really nice horse and we got the nice run today," Butcher said.

Fifty metres from the post any of the three place-getters could have won, but it was Art Bo's staying prowess which saw him get in the telling stride from favourite Cyclone Night (Peter Ferguson) and Eyres Abovetheground (Jay Abernethy). See photo finish.

His winning time was 3:01.1 - mile rate: 2:06.6 and final 800m in 59.9 seconds.

Although based in the harness racing wilderness somewhat, Scaife's horse transport business counters that because it means he can travel frequently to meetings on both Islands.

"I'm lucky because there's usually a space or two in the truck which means we can target races in both Islands. I'm lucky to have good people working for me. Carl Forrester has been a tremendous help and been very good to me, as has my mate Bob and step daughter Natasha Baird. It helps having a good team around you," Scaife said.

Natasha's Mum, Irene (Peter's partner) has a half share in Arts Bo. The gelding has now won five of his 22 starts and placed in 13 others for $38,047 in stakes. His next start will be in the Hawera Cup on Easter Monday followed by the New Plymouth Cup the following week.

His highlight event for the season thereafter will be the Country Cups Final at Alexandra Park in May.

More immediate than that - watch out for Scaife's only city runner in the first event at Alexandra Park on Friday night. Powertofly has the worst possible second row draw but with the right run can figure in the photo finish. He was an eye-catching second behind Talaspring in the ninth race at Pukekohe today.

Top Trainer: Tony Grayling 2 wins.

Top Driver: Brent Mangos and Maurice McKendry 2 wins.

Top Sire: Artiscape and Presidential Ball 2 wins each.

Top Junior Driver: Zac Butcher 1 win.

Results from the Franklin Trotting Club's meeting held at Pukekohe Park in Pukekohe today (Tuesday) were:

Race 1: The Adrienne Matthews trained and driven THAITANIC (Artiscape).

Race 2: The Kelvin Goss trained ROCKET FUN (Pacific Rocket) Brent Mangos.

Race 3: The Todd MacFarlane & Craig Sharpe trained CHARDANAE (Astreos) Todd MacFarlane.

Race 4: The Steven Reid & Graeme Rogerson trained THE OYSTER BAR (Presidential Ball) Maurice McKendry.

Race 5: The Tony Grayling trained BOIZEL (Dream Vacation) Maurice McKendry

Race 6: The Tony Grayling trained and driven MONTRACHET (Monarchy)

Race 7: The John Robinson trained and driven NOBLESS ROYALE (Presidential Ball).

Race 8: The Peter Scaife trained ARTS BO (Artiscape) Zac Butcher.

Race 9: The Doug Mangos trained TALASPRING (Badlands Hanover) Brent Mangos.

Race 10: The Mark Burley trained MAKE OUR DEIGH (Safely Kept) Peter Ferguson.

Extensive results.

Duane RANGER (editor)