Down Under winners with Carter Dalgety

Down Under trainer and harness racing driver on top of the world. 

Potentially two of Down Under’s best ever export horsemen, Nifty Norman and Dexter Dunn won the $500,000 Hamiltonian Oaks on Saturday. 

On what is one of the biggest and most exciting days of harness racing not only in America but through Europe as well with their specialist gait of trotting being on show, both Norman and Dunn won four races each. 

The big time win in the $500,000 Hamiltonian Oaks came with Bella Bellini, a 3yo trotting filly by Bar Hopping.

Bella Bellini and Dunn started from post no.5 and settled mid pack early, but couldn’t find the rail position so were forced to race one off throughout. Cover soon came and the pair received a beautiful drag into the race.

Passing three quarters (1200m) Dunn pulled the square gaiter three wide and unleashed in the stretch to trot a 26.3 final quarter and annihilate race rivals to win in 1:52.1. The memorable win was Nifty Normans third in the race and Dexter’s first.

“It doesn’t get old, I’ll tell you that. Hopefully we will win many more. It’s great fun. I love it. I love this race.” said Norman following the win.

Niftys other three wins were also decent races. He quinellaed the $97,550 Shady Daisy Pace for 3yo Pacing Fillies with two down under drivers at the helm. Andrew McCarthy was first with Grace Hill and Fire Start Hanover was 2nd with Dexter Dunn. Both fillies crossing the line in 1:49.0.

To carry on the fillies winning trend Norman took out the $326,850 Jim Doherty Memorial with Venerable, a 2yo trotting filly by Walner. David Miller did the driving and past the post in 1:52.0. Norman also trained the third horse home being Delilah Hanover with down under driver Todd McCarthy in the bike.

To top off the day Norman and Dunn teamed up with Seriously Hanover to win a later race well in 1:48.4. 

Dexter Dunns other big wins on the programme came with Rockyroad Hanover and Manchego. 

Rockyroad Hanover competed in the $276,150 Cane Pace for 3yo Pacing Colts and Geldings. Receiving a great run throughout, the pair downed the leader to get over the line first in 1:48.1 for trainer Tony Alagna. 

Fan favourite trotting mare Manchego lead throughout in the $269,750 John Cashman Memorial to just hang on at the wire to take victory in 1:50.3. Impressively it was the daughter of Muscle Hills sixth win of the season from just seven starts and 39th career victory, all at the helm of trainer Nancy Takter.

Other notable down under contributions to the day was in the first race where another down under duo of trainer and driver saluted the judge in first. This time it was Brett Pelling and Todd McCarthy who won with 3yo South Beach Star in a nice 1:49.1.

This duo also had a big win on the card in the $158,500 Sam McKee Memorial for Open Pacers. They had Allywag Hanover who was impressive in 1:48.0.

The $50,000 Preferred Pace was also an exciting event with down under trainer Chris Ryder winning it with Tatoo Artist in a blistering time of 1:47.1. A huge run was by the second horse who is a down under bred and trained. That combo, Nandolo N and Shane Tritton. They ran an extremely gallant race in second.

This was a massively enjoyable day of exciting harness racing with down under horsemen winning 9 of 16 races.

 

Monday 2nd August

Northfield Park OH

Executive Dash N – Time: 1:53.3, Stake: $10,000

 

Ocean Downs MD

Afterdinnerspeaker N – Time: 1:57.2, Stake: $6,000

 

Plainridge Park MA

The Bird Dance N – Time: 1:51.4, Stake: $20,000

The Moonshadow N – Time: 1:51.3, Stake: $15,000

• Down Under Trifecta – 2nd Foo Fighter N, 3rd Bettors Fire N

 

Yonkers Raceway NY

Real Lucky N – Time: 1:53.1, Stake: $32,000

Shoobee Doo A – Time: 1:51.2, Stake: $45,000

Robbie Burns N – Time: 1:52.3, Stake: $32,000

Micky Gee N – Time: 1:52.4, Stake: $36,000

None Bettor N – Time: 1:52.1, Stake: $36,000

 

Tuesday 3rd August

Saratoga Harness NY

Beyond Words N – Time: 1:54.1, Stake: $10,000

 

Scioto Downs OH

Ideal Legacy A – Time: 1:54.0, Stake: $5,000

 

The Downs At Mohegan Sun Pocono PA

Belmont Major N – Time: 1:49.3, Stake: $15,300

 

Yonkers Raceway NY

Breaview Bondi A – Time: 1:53.0, Stake: $20,000

 

Wednesday 4th August

Monticello Raceway NY

Nui Ba Den N – Time: 1:53.3, Stake: $6,600

 

Thursday 5th August

Harrah’s Philadelphia PA

Polak A – Time: 1:52.2, Stake: $9,200

Tact Tate N – Time: 1:52.2, Stake: $9,200

 

Plainridge Park MA

Glenferrie Blade A – Time: 1:53.0, Stake: $10,000

 

Yonkers Raceway NY

Sally Fletcher A – Time: 1:54.1, Stake: $12,500

Dbldelitebrigade N – Time: 1:53.0, Stake: $36,000

Millwood Bonnie N – Time: 1:54.3, Stake: $20,000

Sheikh Yabooty A – Time: 1:53.2, Stake: $25,000

• Down Under Trifecta – 2nd My Ruebe Star N, 3rd High Rolling A

Bettor B Chevron N – Time: 1:54.2, Stake: $25,000

Poppy Drayton N – Time: 1:54.1, Stake: $30,000

 

Rideau Carleton Raceway CA

Fcee N – Time: 1:52.4, Stake: $5,000

 

Friday 6th August

Harrah’s Hoosier Park IN

Brilliant Strike N – Time: 1:52.0, Stake: $7,500

Soho Wallstreet A – Time: 1:51.1, Stake: $16,000

 

Harrah’s Philadelphia PA

Lifeonthebeach N – Time: 1:51.1, Stake: $9,900

 

Scioto Downs OH

Miss You N – Time: 1:52.0, Stake: $22,000

 

The Meadows PA

Dream Out Loud N – Time: 1:53.4, Stake: $5,400

 

Yonkers Raceway NY

Bush Man N – Time: 1:55.0, Stake: $12,500

 

 

Saturday 7th August

Harrah’s Hoosier Park IN

Franco Totem N – Time: 1:50.3, Stake: $17,500

 

Hawthorne Racecourse IL

Eliza Dushku N – Time: 1:51.2, Stake: $5,500

 

Saratoga Harness NY

Machiatto A – Time: 1:52.4, Stake: $10,500

• Down Under Trifecta – 2nd Lachie Maguire N, 3rd Sammy The Bull N

 

Scioto Downs OH

Sprinter N – Time: 1:52.0, Stake: $11,000

Gunrneedabgrboat A – Time: 1:53.3, Stake: $12,500

 

The Downs At Mohegan Sun Pocono PA

Paternity Suit A – Time: 1:50.4, Stake: $13,000

 

The Meadows PA

Vega Star N – Time: 1:52.4, Stake: $9,500

 

Woodbine Mohawk Park CA

Major Occasion A – Time: 1:50.1, Stake: $28,000

 

Sunday 8th August

Harrah’s Philadelphia PA

Bettor Not Bitter A – Time: 1:51.0, Stake: $12,000

Joesstar Of Mia N – Time: 1:50.0, Stake: $13,000

 

Northfield Park OH

Mackeral A – Time: 1:51.2, Stake: $8,000

Billy Lincoln N – Time: 1:51.1, Stake: $12,500

 

Running Aces Racetrack MN

All American N – Time: 1:57.0, Stake: $13,800

 

The Downs At Mohegan Sun Pocono PA

Highview Conall N – Time: 1:53.3, Stake: $9,900

Bettors Heart N – Time: 1:52.2, Stake: $15,700

Bronskimackenzie A – Time: 1:51.3, Stake: $7,600

 

Topsham ME

Flight Deck N – Time: 1:59.3, Stake: $3,500

 

Rideau Carleton Raceway CA

Flying Isa N – Time: 1:57.1, Stake: $6,900

 

By Carter Dalgety