Neita Balle gets first training double

The father-daughter duo of Derek and Neita Balle enjoyed a memorable night at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday, notching a winning double with Conrad H (Love You) and Son Of Patrick (Father Patrick).

For Neita, who only recently joined her father in the training ranks, it marked her first double as a trainer, an achievement she was understandably thrilled about.

“I couldn’t get a double as a junior driver so I’m pretty stoked I’ve managed to do it as a trainer,” she said.

The team’s first success of the evening came courtesy of Conrad H in the Hire A Venue At Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace. With Brooke Wilkins in the sulky, the gelding settled into the one-one early in the 2200m trip, and the pair travelled sweetly until the home turn, where they unleashed and swept past their rivals to win by a neck.

Neita admitted she wasn’t expecting him to be quite so sharp.

“I thought the fields they were in suited them down to the ground; if anything, I thought Conrad might’ve been a little overdone, but he loves to throw surprises at you.”

The stable didn’t have to wait long for win number two. Son Of Patrick, who has been in terrific form since joining the Balle barn, made it back-to-back victories when he took out the BetaVet Launches BetaBreathe Handicap Trot.

Driven by Harrison Orange, the gelding made a slow beginning from the front line, settling toward the rear before gradually tacking onto the pack with 1600m to go.

From there, Orange allowed him to build into his work, and once they moved onto their rivals at the final quarter, the race was quickly put to bed. Son Of Patrick stretched out beautifully in the home straight, winning with ease by 1¾ lengths.

SON OF PATRICK REPLAY

Neita has developed a particular soft spot for the trotter.

“I was very confident in Son Of Patrick, he hasn’t put a foot wrong since coming to our stable and he’s a true gentleman,” she said, “his confidence is just going to keep levelling up, it’s always such a thrill with him because he’s definitely my baby, I don’t let Dad touch him.”

Looking ahead, Conrad H will switch back to trotting as summer grass-track racing approaches.

“He thrived on the grass last time and I’d love to see him in a Country Cups final,” Neita said.

As for Son Of Patrick, the plan is to keep things simple.

“He’ll stay left-handed — he’s not the best going right-handed and I don’t really want to knock his confidence by taking him to Auckland. So, we’ll just leave him where he’s happy and go race by race.”

For complete race results, click here

by Jordyn Bublitz for Harness Racing New Zealand