Dover Terrace lands plunge, Ends trainer’s 10-year wait

A change of scenery is being credited with turning around the harness racing form of Dover Terrace at Addington last night.

The Gold Ace six-year-old landed some big bets to give his Kaikoura-based trainer Sonny Jacobs his first win in 10 years of training.

“It was a bloody beauty,” says Jacobs.

Jacobs had recently been in hospital with a kidney issue but was on course to see the milestone in person.

“Being there was the main thing,” says Jacobs, “and it was a convincing win.”

Dover Terrace opened at $16 and was plunged into $2.25 at one stage.

Driver Bronson Munro landed the one-one early on in the Downbytheseaside Making A Splash Mobile Pace before settling three back the running line. The combo then peeled out turning for home and left their rivals gasping to win by over three lengths, with Munro celebrating with a whip flourish.

DOVER TERRACE REPLAY

“In what is one of the biggest market moves you’ll see,” said commentator Dan Fogarty, “and Bronson Munro loved it.”

Munroe has been looking after Dover Terrace for Jacobs for about a month and was upbeat about the horse’s chances.

“I was pretty confident, the horse had worked well and I had tipped him out to a few people over the weekend,” he said post race.

In the Stipendary Stewards report Munro advised “that the gelding had benefitted from a different feeding and training regime since joining his stable as per the horse movement notification. Mr Munro added that the change of environment combined with being able to train alongside other horses had contributed to an improvement in the horse’s condition and competitiveness.”

It was Dover Terrace’s first win in 28 starts though he has placed twice previously.

It was also a good night for Michael House. He trained four winners with Super Fund driven by Sam Thornley and the other three by son Wilson.

They were Mode, Shezabettorgirl and Santanna Mach.

For the remarkable 11-year-old Santanna Mach it was his 24th win at start number 252!

He was part of a House-trained quinella with Courage Reactor driven by Blair Orange, who remains on 2996 career wins, just four wins short of becoming just the fourth driver ever to win 3000 races in this country.

He’ll be back in action at Addington tomorrow night with six drives.

For complete race results, click here.

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk