There’s no doubting Kaiwera horseman Carl Hanna has found the key to Tairlaw Toll. It seems the rural lifestyle and one on one training has sparked a new lease of life in the seven year old harness racing gelding.
“Carl’s done an amazing job with him. It’s pretty unreal how well he can stay. All credit to Carl …… I didn’t think he could do what he has,” said driver Matty Williamson who reined Tairlaw Toll to a tough win in the $20,000 MLT Wyndham Cup today.
Tairlaw Toll heading out before the Wyndham Cup
I commented to Williamson when he was heading to the track today how big and strong the horse was looking and he said he’d been running massive races.
Warming up
He certainly lived up to his looks. After a positive drive by Williamson who led twice with the seven year old, he outstayed the large field to win by a length and a half from Idealism.
“He’s super tough. I thought we’d get round early after the leaders had a bit of a dual. I thought I’d over drive him rather than under drive him because he never seems to stop. If it came to the fight, he would win even though he’d done all the work.”
Tairlaw Toll ready to get the led back for Williamson with a lap to run
Close to the finish
Closer to the line
Returning
Winning connections
Host down
Tairlaw Toll and trainer Carl Hanna
Tairlaw Toll is certainly in the winning zone at present, having won three of his last six starts.
“His mind is fresh and that shows in how much he’s enjoying his racing. He’s a happy horse and he’s racing that way.”
The gelding by Somebeachsomewhere was bred by Macca Lodge’s Brent and Sheree McIntyre in partnership with the Nelsons who raced the gelding’s dam Bonnie Lass.
“Most of the Somebeachsomewheres are speed horses but this fella is super tough.”
Tairlaw Toll will now be aimed at the $20,000 Southern Country Cups Final on Diamonds Day at Ascot Park at the end of April. Bonnie Lass won the inaugural Southern Country Cups final in 2001.
Tairlaw Toll is owned by Hanna, his mother Pam Ashworth and stepfather Ross Rennie.
The winning time of 3-59.9 was only the second time a pacer has run a sub four minute time in the two mile feature. Franco Ledger’s time of 3-57.0 is still the race and track record for the distance.
View the Wyndham results click here!
by Bruce Stewart