Aardie doubles up in electric Ordeal Cup

If you were slow to tune in to ‘Friday Night Lights’ harness racing broadcast, you could be forgiven for wondering how Matty Williamson and Love N The Port (Love You) managed to find the front after 800m of the 59^th Ordeal Cup at Addington Raceway.

The southern visitor was one of only three runners off 10m, and despite all horses beginning well, a skirmish caused by a fractious favourite in Mighty Logan (Majestic Son) heading into the first bend resulting in the field parting like Moses with the Red Sea.

Tectonic (Majestic Son), Eurostyle (Orlando Vici), and Fiery Bandito (Majestic Son) in particular copped nasty checks as a result of the abrupt change of direction from Mighty Logan which paved the way for Matty Williamson to punch through a fortuitous gap and find his favoured front running position in his race day resumption.

Another back marker to begin well was the standing start maestro and defending champion, Aardiebythehill (Muscle Hill), with pilot Blair Orange only too happy to take a handy position three back on the markers behind the bonny mare, Galway Girl (Majestic Son).

With a little over a lap left to run, the countries leading reinsman noticed the stablemates Sunny’s Sister (Majestic Son) and mistake maker, Mighty Logan making surging runs from the back and all but left his trailing spot. With Tectonic and Sam Ottley at his wheel, he elected to stay put.

John Dunn and last seasons 3YO Filly of the Year were unsuccessful in a brief bid for the top with Love N The Port being given some rein after having things his own way for much of the first lap. Then it was the turn of the race favourite to apply some pressure with the Open Class trotters in full flight down the back the last time.

At the 400m, the 2023 Rowe Cup winner Love N The Port kicked clear and looked like he was going to add to his glittering fresh up record, however the lack of race fitness was evidently taking its toll and as his stride began to shorten, the chasing pack were closing from all directions.

Just as it looked like Orange had missed a trick in not clearing a pocket 1200m earlier, ‘The Postman’ managed to extricate his charge out and around a tiring Galway Girl and charge past a gallant Love N The Port and add another Ordeal Cup to his CV.

“I got a really good start and handed up in the trail early,” said Orange as he returned to scale.

“Obviously Matty pressed on with Love N The Port and three the fence wasn’t a bad place to be. We got all the splits when we needed too, we came out and went in and came out again and the horse has run home good.

“He’s not better than them by any means. But he is a wee tradesman who does what he has got to do. He got up tonight which is great but as we know there is more firepower to come in the trotting ranks,” said Orange in reference to the impending arrivals of Muscle Mountain and the Australian raiders.

AARDIEBYTHEHILL REPLAY

As we pointed out earlier in the week, the Open Class ranks in New Zealand have changed drastically in the last 12 months and the runs in behind from the other 12 Dominion hopefuls were for the most part, extremely encouraging.

The Paul Nairn trained Tectonic was massive in his first look at this grade finishing a half neck away in second. Love N The Port stick on gamely for third and will strip better for the run, while Gold Bullion (Father Patrick) who with the aid of the half hopples made up enormous ground after finding himself stone motherless last at the 600m to finish fourth.

Last start winner Confessional (Father Patrick) is still looking for a run and was desperately unlucky to not see any daylight, while the David McCormick trained and driven Maui (Peak) was a nose away from adding substantially to the $3025 first four dividend in what was arguably the run of his career to date.

The run of Eurostyle had plenty of merit after her early check and she showed plenty of her customary speed up the markers to get within three lengths, and connections of Jimmy Carter (The Pres) and Mr Love (Love You) will head home happy with how their charges made up ground.

Second favourite, Sunny’s Sister had peaked on her run before being placed in cramped quarters by the winner squeezing by which caused her to break stride, while Fiery Bandito got some fitness after having his chances extinguished through no fault of his own.

Take nothing away from the winning combination who in victory both secured their second Ordeal Cup’s, with Orange last successful attempt coming behind Cyclone U Bolt in 2013.

He was full of praise for the Diamond Racing team who at time of writing had added to their training premeriship lead with five wins inside the first nine races.

“I’ve had a good run for Robert and Jenna, Johnny and all the crew. They are a fantastic training group and it’s a pleasure to sit behind their horses,” said Orange.

Aardiebythehill joins Sir Castleton, Take A Moment, Sundees Son (3), Mighty Chief and Sundowner Bay as trotters to have won two Ordeal Cup’s and asa result, has his ticket to the second Tuesday in November secured.

It was the six-year-old geldings 10th career victory from 43 starts, and took his career earnings for Candian owner Mike Tanev north of $210,000.

For complete Addington race results, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink