Bits and Bridles

In his breakout season Southland junior driver Hayden Douglas has chalked up twelve wins. Not bad for a driver with a fulltime job outside of the industry.

Douglas who drives primarily for his father Jeremy is currently tied with Max Hill in the Southland Junior Drivers Premiership.

Hill is having his own personal battle within the national championship with his brother Seth. Max after winning at Ascot Park on Wednesday, is one win clear of Seth in their fight for bragging rights.

Southland owned pacing mare Treacherous Gall (Captaintreacherous) is back in New Zealand after a seven race campaign in Australia.

The four year old mare won first up in a career best mile time of 1-52.0 but that was to be her only win in Australia.

Formerly trained by Regan Todd, the mare is now in the Cambridge stable of Dylan and Jo Ferguson.

Talented Southland pacer Wag Star (Sweet Lou) will be aimed at next months $100,000 Group One Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup.

“He’s back home now and will have a quiet couple of weeks. I was happy with his Kaikoura run and he was probably a bit tired for that last run (Addington). He’s one that goes well fresh, so we’ll try and keep him on the fresh side for Invercargill. One thing about him is that when he gets back home after a hard race he eats his tucker and bucks and kicks,” trainer Craig Ferguson said.

Junior driver Gemma Thornley wasted no time in getting back into the winner’s circle after returning from the UK.

At the Banks Peninsula meeting she drove her father’s horse Franco Tim (Sportswriter) to win the last race.
Thornley has just finished a stint with American eventing rider Cosby Green at Chedington Estate in England alongside New Zealand Equestrian greats Tim and Janelle Price.

She’s currently working back at Spreydon Lodge.

When By Chance (Lord Forbes) won a two year old race at Invercargill on Wednesday for his breeder and trainer Gavin Forbes, he enhanced his siring record to 100% foals to winners.
The Live Or Die stallion only has three foals of racing age, the others are Hoki Fella (2 wins from nine starts) and Louies Girl (6 wins from fifteen starts).

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink