No hopples no worries

Harness Racing trainer Graeme Anderson was a nervous man today.

He was at home on babysitting duty when Ariella (Art Major) whom he co-trains with Mike Love won the Superior Mobile Pace on the grass at Wingatui.

The nerves were heightened as the four year old was having her first race day start without hopples.

“It started to rain and you think about her going across the crossing. All those things out of your control. But she got the job done which was good,” he said.

Anderson and Love have been planning to run Ariella free legged for about three months and this is the first pacer they’ve taken to the races without hopples.

“After she had that crash at Addington she could get a bit wound up with the hopple on, so we decided we’d do it,. It was just a manner of figuring out the right time to do it. With no Forbury Park track we had to take her down to Wyndham and (we) trailed her there. We took her to Waikouaiti one day and put her around Amber’s (Hoffman) track. It wasn’t just a simple procedure so it’s quite good it’s worked.”

ARIELLA REPLAY

Previous successful free legged pacers include Robalan, Superior Chance, Nutwood, Garrisons Image and Final Decision.

After months of planning Anderson’s nerves turned to satisfaction. And judging from the way Ariella came back to the birdcage she enjoyed the experience too.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink