Successful start to Tuesday racing for Donnelly

It was a successful start to Tuesday harness racing racing for Cambridge-based trainer Arna Donnelly on her home track last night.

She trained two winners on the six race programme while stable employee Zev Meredith had a driving double and two placings from five drives.

Donnelly’s first winner of the night, in a race in which she trained the quinella, was Bad Medicine (Bettor’s Delight) who took out the Harcourts Te Awamutu Mobile Pace over 2200 metres. The Bettor’s Delight gelding was the most well credentialled horse in the race and started favourite at $2.60. It was his eighth in 67 starts.

“He finally got there by the barest of margins!” said Donnelly “It was a good win for his connections who have been really loyal and stuck with him, he has been handy enough over the years and is always thereabouts.”

Driven by David Butcher and starting from barrier 12, the six-year-old gelding landed in the one out one back position shortly after the start and remained there until Butcher made his move with 400 metres to run. Bad Medicine was able to comfortably get past the leaders to score the win with Donnelly’s other runner in the race, Cracker Rock, digging deep up the straight to finish second and just a nose from the winner.

“Cracker Rock’s run was quite pleasing, he can put in a good race when everything is going his way and he should benefit from the run being fresh up tonight.”

Red Rackham (Auckland Reactor) was Donnelly’s second winner of the night, with the Vincent gelding finally breaking his maiden status in the BK Ellis Racing Stables Owners Love Racing Mobile Pace.

“He got his own way in front tonight which really suited him” says Donnelly “It was really good to see him put his foot in the till for his owner Kym Kearns.”

Driven by junior driver Zev Meredith, who also works for Donnelly, Red Rackham was sent forward from his starting barrier of three. Unchallenged for the lead, Meredith dictated terms in front and pulled away from the field in the home straight to win by 4.25 lengths at odds of $2.50. Waltzing With Miki and Cupids Arrow filled the placings.

Meredith’s other winner was with the Derek Balle trained Conrad H who took out the SG Stud Handicap Trot. The Love You gelding has raced as a pacer in his previous five starts and seemed to enjoy the return to the trotting gait.

“He was really good tonight” says Meredith “I think he felt a bit sharper and has gained a bit of confidence from his starts as a pacer.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Brigette Solomon, for Harness Racing New Zealand