Tact McLeod shows metro class

Tact McLeod (Sweet Lou) won a maiden race at the Wairio Harness Racing meeting at Winton last month, but he took a step up when he performed on the big stage at Addington tonight (Feb. 10).

Knowing the quality of the horse, driver Nathan Williamson pushed Tact McLeod forward with a lap to run, wrestling the lead from favourite Coney Island Lou (Sweet Lou). He held the lead for the remainder of the race and beat South Sea Rocks (A Rocknroll Dance) by a length and a quarter. 

The winning time was 2-22.3.

“At home when you drive him in front the horse behind never gets past him. Tact Tama (Christian Cullen) was like that, and this guy is very similar. When Nathan did that I thought the race was going to be very interesting to see whether my theory was right and it was,” trainer Trevor Proctor said.

TACT MCLEOD REPLAY

It was the four year old’s second win in as many starts and Proctor said he’d made a few gear changes since his five and a quarter length win at Winton.

“I took the pole off him and his overcheck, but it didn’t make too much difference because he was still a bit green so Nathan suggested that for his next start we put the pole back on, on the other side.”

At this meeting thirteen years ago Proctor recorded his biggest training win with Tact Lizzie (Christian Cullen), when she won the 2010 $80,000 Group One PPG Wrightson New Zealand Breeders Stakes. Driven by Stephen McNally, Tact Lizzie paid $64.30 and $12.00.

Tact McLeod will stay at Mark Jones this week and could start at Addington on Friday.

“He’s pretty much untapped. To win races you have to run straight and you can see that he’s still mucking around with his head and Nathan said he was still a bit rough on the bends.”

The win by Tact McLeod was perfect timing for Proctor and partner Diane Dynes who have a half-brother by Lather Up ready to sell on day three of the upcoming Christchurch Sales.

“My idea all along was to start this horse before the Sale and hope he could win one or two which he’s done and that should automatically put the price up.” 

Tact McLeod’s dam Tact Hayley Jane (Albert Albert) won ten races and as a broodmare has left Tact Haley Delight, (Bettor’s Delight) the winner of sixteen races, Tact Charlotte (Bettor’s Delight) two wins, and the talented Tact Tama which is unbeaten in five starts for Australian trainer and former Kiwi Tim Butt.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink