Lakelsa now kicking goals, not carts

She’s booted a few drivers out of the cart and left southern harness racing trainer Brad Morris out of action with a smashed knee. But Lakelsa’s (Captaintreacherous) kung fu days appear to over and at Addington yesterday she won her second race from just four starts.

Race driver Robbie Close settled Lakelsa second last from a wide draw before getting on the back of Flo Motion to improve three wide. With a lap to run Close had the mare in front and she came away at the finish to win by a length and three quarters from Moet Shard.

LAKELSA REPLAY

Bred by Bruce and Al Sinclair of Wyndham, Lakelsa is out of Oh Tara, an unraced daughter of My Sharona.

“We got her (My Sharona) off Jack and Campbell Sellars who were getting out of them. We took My Sharona and got Speedwell (mother of My Sharona) the next season. Dad (Jim) used to do all the Sellar’s chaff cutting when we were kids.”

My Sharona won two races but it’s as a broodmare that she’s made her mark.

Her first foal Havinaravup (Washington VC) won four races while Leigh Major (Art Major) won seven and Mr Handleman (Stonebridge Regal) five.

Bruce says Lakelsa has tested the patience of a few, damaged equipment and limbs, on the way to making a racehorse.

“She broke in nice and went back to Brad Morris’s for her first prep. She started bucking when she went out on the track. He jumped out and she gave him the barrel and broke his knee. She also kicked me out and smashed the aluminium sulky down at the racecourse one day. David Gregory did a bit of work with her and Craig (Ferguson) swum her for a bit. She then had a break and we worked her up a bit behind the motorbike. I rang Barry Todd to see if he knew a young trainer in Canterbury who may take her. Two days later Regan (Todd) rang and he ended up taking her.”

Lakelsa qualified at Rangiora in March and was brought south by Todd to make her debut at Wyndham later that month where she finished sixth.

“They’ve all seen her back feet but since she raced at Wyndham and we turned her out Regan says she hasn’t kicked since. Regan and Robbie have done a bloody good job with her.”

The Sinclairs are breeding out of Leigh Major and have a three year old colt by Downbytheseaside, a yearling colt by Always B Miki, and a weanling colt by Sweet Lou.

Her pedigree extends back to Glen Moria which won ten races – seven for Maurice Kerr and three for Jack Carmicheal. She ran second in the Ashburton Flying Mile as well as in the Kaikoura, Ashburton and New Brighton Cups.

For complete race results,click here

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink