Chocolate Crunch wins on debut

Chocolate Crunch’s (Captain Crunch) win at the Amberley meeting at Rangiora today rekindled memories of a breed that’s provided many highlights for Canterbury based harness racing owner Hazel van Opzeeland.

Hazel owned Highview Chartom, the grandmother of Chocolate Crunch. And she raced millionaire pacer Highview Tommy (Bettor’s Delight) which won seventeen races and his younger sister Highview Chartom (Elsu) which won five.

Chocolate Crunch is trained by Grant Payne and is co-owned by his wife Jan and Hazel.

In the Canterbury Breeders Joan Belcher Legacy Mobile Pace, driver Bob Butt managed to get a nice run through from the second line with the three year old. When the lead was finalised, Chocolate Crunch slotted into the one one. There was a lot of pressure at the top end of the race and Chocolate Crunch got shuffled back. Butt launched his filly six wide turning in and when he released the head gear halfway down the straight, she unleashed a powerful sprint to beat Tipstar by a length.

CHOCOLATE CRUNCH REPLAY

“She got a nice run through early and the speed was on, so it couldn’t have worked out better. She had that acceleration after getting a good run and it worked out well,” Butt said.

Prior to today’s debut Chocolate Crunch had been showing good form at the trials and was made fourth win favourite.

“Yeah, she’d been trialling good and is quite a nice filly. She’s still green and has a bit to learn, but she’s getting there and is going to do a good job.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink