Duke gets first win

Duke Of Scotland (Sweet Lou) finally got his maiden win at the Invercargill Harness Racing meeting at Ascot Park yesterday.

As a three year old Duke Of Scotland owned by Lester Smith, raced against the best in his age group in the south, finishing seventh in last year’s Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes behind Ohoka Connor.

“He’s still got a bit of filling out to do but it’s the best we’ve had him looking,” trainer Lauren Pearson said.

In yesterday’s McLeay Jewellers Mobile Pace driver Nathan Williamson pushed the gelding through from the second line to trail early leader Montage. Just before turning in Williamson eased the gelding off the inside and Duke Of Scotland was driven out to win by two and a quarter lengths from Cruising Fontana.

“He finally got a run to suit him, so it worked out good.”

Pearson’s other runner first starter Wild Bull (Raging Bull), started favourite on the back of some impressive trials and workouts but had no luck in the running and battled home for fifth, four lengths from his stablemate.

“He didn’t really know what he was doing but he went alright. He’s got potential.”

Early in the day Duke Of Scotland’s half-sister Duchess Of Kent (Art Major) qualified.

Duke Of Scotland is out of Galleons Honour who’s been an outstanding broodmare for Smith with all of her eight foals qualifying. Seven of her progeny between them have won fifty six races with the mare’s biggest winner being Duke Of Cornwall (Sweet Lou) fourteen wins. Her other winners have been Dazed And Confused (9), Venice Beach (11), Duke Of Wellington (8), Rise Above This (9), Broadbeach (4), and Duke Of Scotland (1).

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink