A brief scare, but Harold Smith proves too strong

Harold Smith (Andover Hall) completed the McNamara Memorial and Bendigo cups double with a powerful squaregaiting display at Lord’s Raceway.

The New Zealand native overcame a 20m handicap to win the listed classic for trainer Emma Stewart and driver Mark Pitt on Wednesday night.

Harold Smith settled in the one-out one-back position through the early stages of the race before Pitt sent the seven-year-old forward at the bell, only for him to trot roughly outside leader Im Bobby.

He ultimately stayed in his gait and proved too classy inside the final lap, surging to the front off the back straight while holding a margin on 30m back marker Parisian Artiste, who made an early mistake but flashed home strongly to grab second.

Harold Smith’s Aldebaran Park Bendigo Trotters Cup win followed victory at Melton on March 29 and his success in the McNamara Memorial Trotters Cup at Geelong on March 7.

“It was a great win,” Pitt told Paul Campbell. “My heart was in my mouth at the bell, but I was lucky enough that I kept him trotting and the rest is history.

“Just probably when I quickened him up a little bit quick, he just lengthened stride really fast and probably touched the wheel that couple of times, and it just half-frightened him a little bit.

“Once he got back in his rhythm, he never touched the wheel again – which was good – and he trotted really good after that.”

Harold Smith has now won four of eight starts for the Cardigan-based Stewart since arriving from New Zealand, where he claimed six races.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria