Southerners on show

Da Vinci (Art Major), Peregrine (Pegasus Spur) and Teddy Baker (Somebeachsomewhere) were flying the Southern Harness Racing flag on Show Day at Addington yesterday (Nov. 11).

Trained at Wyndham by Craig Ferguson Da Vinci lead all the way in Race Three yesterday and he held on to beat Dance Till Dawn (Art Major) by three quarters of a length.

“I thought halfway down (the straight) that I could have been in trouble but when that horse got close to him, my fella kept kicking,” Ferguson said.

Da Vinci has been housed in Canterbury at Regan Todd’s stable during Cup Week. His work had impressed Ferguson and the camp were confident they had him spot on for Cup Day. But he missed out on a start.

“We were disappointed he didn’t back into the field on Cup Day. We were holding out hope that there might have been another scratching because we thought he would have gone close,” Ferguson said.

The two year old is beginning to fashion a good record having finished second to Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) in the Kindergarten Stakes and winning two races at Addington from just six starts.

“He’s still just a baby and runs like that too. He’s got a lot to learn. So far he’s getting there on sheer ability.”

Ferguson says the gelding will be aimed at the $100,000 Ace of Spades on Grand Prix Day at Addington on December 2nd. Da Vinci is currently sitting at seven on the leader board.

“He’s up to going in a race like that. He won’t disgrace himself.”

DA VINCI REPLAY

Earlier in the day the Ferguson trained Street Art (Art Major) started as favourite in the South of the Waitaki and ran a disappointing fourth.

“He had a bit of a wind issue. We’ll get him looked at and see if anything comes of it. His work was the best of my horses going around (in training) at Regan’s and we were expecting him to fly the flag today.”

Meanwhile quality trotter Peregrine capped off a good Cup Week by winning the Ikon Architects Handicap Trot in the hands of Blair Orange. 

After a very good third on Cup Day the Brett Gray trained mare capitalised on a good run three back on the fence and came up the passing lane to beat Love N The Port (Love You) by a length and a quarter.

“She never put a foot wrong, and Brett had her in tip top order today,” Orange said.

Peregrine is owned by Penny and John Baynes who purchased her as a weanling.

“The first time she came up here she didn’t handle it that well but this time she’s up here with Joes Rock her mate and she’s handled it a lot better. She’s really turned a corner,” Gray said.

Yesterday’s win was Peregrine’s seventh from twenty starts and Gray says she’s likely to return to Addington on November 24th for a Group Two Four Year Old and older mares race worth $50,000.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink