Verducci gets maiden win at start 29

Nearly two years after making his debut Verducci broke his maiden status at start number 29 at Methven yesterday.

The six-year-old Sportswriter gelding took out the Mt Hutt Motels Mobile Pace for West Melton trainer-driver Jessica Young-Grant, after placing eight times previously. It was Young-Grant’s 128th success in the sulky and her third as a trainer.

“It was a good win. He’s been an enigma. He’s a super track worker,” said Young-Grant.

Young-Grant said her expectations had been set high early in the gelding’s career.

“When he ran second in his first start I thought ‘shit we’re going to win one soon.’ But here we are 29 starts later,” she said.

In what was an eventful race with She’s A Major Act and Ideal Conqueror playing cat and mouse on a fast tempo, the race was set up for a swooper. Young-Grant was able to watch everything unfold from back in the field. Verducci was checked at the 400 metres, and was in fact in a gallop dead last at the top of the straight. Young-Grant and Verducci quickly recovered to get a roll on with a huge run to pick them up and win by half a length at the line.

“It’s always a good run when they come from last,” Young-Grant said.

Young-Grant said she has persevered with the gelding.

“He wouldn’t be around in most other stables,” she said.

VERDUCCI REPLAY

Recent form had given some encouragement.

“He was a bit unlucky at Addington two starts ago. But even so we were more hopeful than confident today,” Young-Grant said.

Verducci is out of Roxy Bromac, a mare that Young-Grant drove to seven wins.

“She was such a little darling. I was a junior then. She kinda got me on the map as a driver. She had speed. She could win from anywhere and tried so hard,” Young-Grant said.

For complete race results, click here.

by Mike Love, for Harness Racing New Zealand