Bet N Win goes to “new level” at Addington

The Bet N Win team finally know what they have got now.

Maybe they already did, or at least thought they did.

We all did too. Since he started his march through the grades last year we thought he might be special, the heir to the trotting throne.

He has done little to make us doubt those claims since, bar a reality check in the Dominion back in November, when he found hardened old men of the trotting scene just too hard.

But on Friday night Bet N Win proved to us and co-trainer David White that he has learned his lessons well.

That he now has a brain, heart and lung capacity to match that gait, that speed.

He led, was attacked, relented then re-took and after all that held out the late challenge of Muscle Mountain to win his first Group 1, the $100,000 Fred Shaw Memorial Trotting Champs at Addington.

It was equal parts brave and brilliant, a coming of age, suggesting he may already be the best trotter in New Zealand.

“Stacey and I thought he had gone to that new level but you still want to see it,” says White.

“That is why I was glad to see him cop some pressure tonight and react like that.

“That last campaign was great for him and ever since he has come back he has felt with us.

“He knows what to do now and how to do it.” 

BET N WIN REPLAY

Driver Bob Butt did the rest, believing in Bet N Win and gaining confidence and respect as he heads north and then maybe to Australia to see exactly where he sits in the pecking order.

First up comes the sprint at Cambridge to get him dialled back into 1000m track racing and then the TAB Trot on April 4, for which he clearly has the speed and the attitude.

White says he also has the constitution to handle the long campaign that stretches in front of him.

“Our plan is to go to Cambridge then through the Auckland races to the Rowe Cup and then if all going well to the Inters in Brisbane.

“We think he has the constitution to do that now. Obviously if the Australians come over here and are too good for us a few races in a row things might change but the plan is to campaign him right through.

“We think he is up to it now.”

Muscle Mountain tried hard but may have lost an inch of his top speed but should be a better and fitter horse come Cambridge.

The night’s main pace, the Hector’s Gin Free-For-All, saw a new career peak from Pinseeker as he bolted away with the Group 3 for trainer-driver Jonny Cox.

He was sent forward early to wrest the lead off favourite Rakero Rocket and was never in danger of defeat after.

He caps a strong body of summer work from Pinseeker and while he has now won six of his 20 starts he has suggested before he will end up an open class regular.

Like many new to the open class grade this campaign will be his friend and it wouldn’t surprise to see him in the New Zealand Cup come November.

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand