The horse we’d all love to own

Port Pegasus is the harness racing horse we’d all love to own.

Week in week he provides his owners with pay back and a form line that has consistency written all over it.

The four year old trotter won his third race in rough weather conditions at Ascot Park today (May 21). The win comes on the back of four previous second placings.

Trained at Gore by Brian Norman and today driven by junior reinsman Mark Hurrell, Port Pegasus (Pegasus Spur) trailed pacemaker Sky High Flyer for most of the 2200 metre trip. When Sky High Flyer went rough and broke with 400 metres to run Hurrell pulled him out from the trail. With 300 to run he pulled the ear plugs and the Pegasus Spur gelding let down nicely to easily beat Dem Bones Dem Bones, by three lengths.

PORT PEGASUS REPLAY

“That was my fifth drive on him for four seconds, so it was good to get the win,” Hurrell said.

Hurrell currently sits third in the New Zealand Junior Drivers Premiership, having achieved nineteen wins. The championship is currently lead by Sarah O’Reilly with twenty eight winners followed by Ben Hope with twenty four.

“I’m getting to travel the country a bit, getting wins most weeks and driving for a lot of different trainers so I’m pretty happy with my season at the moment.”

Included in his recent success was a career first at Alexandra Park in Auckland when he paired with Romeo Shard, trained by Brent Mangos, to win.

“I’d had a few drives up there but that was my first winner. It was pretty special.”

Hurrell has matured as a horseman in the last three seasons, driving thirty five winners in 2019, twenty three in 2020 and a career best forty one, last season.

“Southland trainers have really supported me this season too. I’m getting six to seven drives a meeting and I couldn’t be more thankful. There are a few nice horses to drive amongst them as well.”

The well travelled reinsman was at Addington Raceway last night driving his boss Craig Ferguson’s talented trotter Smokin Bandar which ran a gallant second behind Mataderos.

“I wish I’d gone before Mataderos because it was always going to be hard to sit outside and beat him. Mataderos ran second in the Dominion, so I was really proud of my horse. He’s proven he’s good enough to be in the good trots. I’m hoping he can be competitive in them.”

For complete Invercargill race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart