Negus and Young-Grant combine for upset wins

The formidable harness racing combination of driver Jessica Young-Grant and trainer Bruce Negus were again to the fore at the Waimate meeting on Sunday with two upset wins on the Oamaru grass track.

Young-Grant rocked the punters early on when Emma’s Delight was way too good for her rivals in race two, even though she sat parked out for the majority of the race, on a track not favourable to horses working hard in the running.

Emma’s Delight (Sir Lincoln) was overlooked on the tote and paid a massive $37.00 for the win, despite winning a workout on grass the previous weekend at Methven.

“Yes she went really well. Bruce was surprised because he didn’t think she would be ready for a tough run like that,” Jessica told Harnesslink this morning.

“I drove her quietly in the workout win last weekend, as we were in a small field with a couple of 2yo trotters so it was hard to get a line on her.”

“She is better sitting and then running a last quarter, so to do the work she did in Sunday’s race and kick on to win was a good effort.”

Classie Emma, the dam of Emma’s Delight also had two wins and a number of placings on grass tracks, so the family seems well suited to the softer surface.

Four races later the same trainer/driver combination got home on another double figure winner. This time it was trotting mare Buffy Northstains (Majestic Son) who did the business, sprinting up the passing lane to win nicely paying $14.00.

“Yes she is a tiny wee little thing but she tries really hard and just wants to be out there,” Jessica said.

“She sprinted really well up the inside when she got room.”

“The fence is a good place to be at Oamaru as it is hard to make ground from the back wider on the track,” she said.

Bruce Negus had two other runners engaged during the day, with Mark Dunnett driven by Jessica Young-Grant, running a close up fourth in race nine and Corravally Star driven by Sam Thornley running on late in the Waimate Cup for seventh, two and a half lengths behind the winner Got You Covered.

View the Waimate results click here

Harnesslink Media