Play it again Sam

Canterbury reinswoman Samantha Ottley reined a harness racing double at the Winton meeting today.

In the $20,000 Murray Gray Memorial Mobile Pace she teamed up with the Mark Jones trained Seaside Croft (Downbytheseaside) to get a three quarter of a length decision over another son of Downbytheseaside, D Mac.

“It was a very professional display and it’s only the second time off the place. He’s coped really well with the big trip and his first race day start. He’s still green. He hit the front and felt as though he still had a bit there,” Ottley said.

SEASIDE CROFT REPLAY

The winning time was 1-57.7.

The two year old colt is a half brother to Pat Campbell (9) and Sideshow Bruce (3).

Ottley’s second win came in the last heat of the Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes Series, driving the Robert and Jenna Dunn trained Malakai (Captain Crunch).

The three year old gelding blasted the gate from the outside of the front row and dominated the mile, beating Flashpoint by a head with a length back to Crunch Time – making it a Captain Crunch trifecta.

MALAKAI REPLAY

“There was a fair bit of gate speed inside of us. We had to let them settle. He’s a big strong boy who covers the ground really nice. In doing the form and speaking to John (Dunn) he said I’d probably have to go forward early with the better ones on the back row.”

Once in front, Ottley wasn’t given much peace.

“I looked around and saw the Cullen horse (Crunch Time) and Nathan’s (Williamson) horse (Always Dreaming) were coming. I thought I’d try and make them work a little bit harder while they were covering extra ground.”

Malakai will now head to Ascot Park next Sunday and race in the 2200 metre $60,000 Group Two Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes.

“He seems like a lovely kind horse who relaxes wherever you put him so I don’t think the extra distance will worry him at all.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink