Track records smashed at Oamaru

The Oamaru harness race track was super hot today and in both of the age group features, track and New Zealand records were broken. 

In the Diamond Creek/SBSR Juvenile Stakes, Incentivise (Bettor’s Delight) killed his rivals with a dominant one and a quarter length victory.  

“His work had been pretty awesome going into today, but you never know until you line up against them. When he won his first race there was only three or four in it, but he ran a half in 54.9 so we knew he had the ability,” said trainer Ross Houghton. 

The two year old colt stopped the clock at 2-23.8 – a new track and New Zealand record for two year old colts and geldings, smashing Another Party’s 1997 record of 2-25.1. 

INCENTIVISE REPLAY

“He’s come up really good this time and trialled really nice. The faster they go the better he goes.” 

The colt was bred by Sam Langrope and offered by Dancingonmoonlight at the 2024 NZB Standardbred Sales but didn’t reach his reserve of $60,000 so he was passed in. He was put in the care of Houghton who works out of the Dancingonmoonlight training establishment. 

“When we broke him in he was a lovely big strong colt. It’s a beautiful place to train horses from, and the horses just enjoy it there. There’s a 1000 metre track and a twenty horse barn. We all work in as a team.” 

Houghton says Incentivise will now head to the next Sire’s Stakes heat. 

“It’s scary. He’s not race hardened and we haven’t really screwed him down, so there’s a lot more improvement there. He’s very tough but he’s got a bit of high speed and after the race it takes a lap to pull him up.”  

The win was the second for Dancingonmoonlight with Midnight Diamond (Royalty For Life) also trained by Houghton, taking out the first race. 

Later in the programme smart filly Winelight (Downbytheseaside) was in breaking form in the fourth heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series. 

Stablemate Arafura led, with General Jen in the trail and Winelight in the one one. At the 400, driver Olivia Thornley got Winelight into full race mode and brought her filly three wide. Straightening up for the run home, Winelight got the better of Arafura to win by half a length with General Jen rounding out a Hayden and Amanda Cullen trifecta. 

WINELIGHT REPLAY

The time of 2-23.6 was a new track and New Zealand record for three year old fillies, beating Sweet Diamonds 2023 time of 2-23.7. 

“Being their first starts back I couldn’t be happier with how they ran,” Hayden said after the run. 

Of the three fillies, Cullen says Winelight appears to have improved the most. 

“Every preparation she’s got stronger and stronger and her two trials have been faultless.”  

All three fillies are owned by McKerrow Bloodstock. 

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink