Cool Water Paddy claims the Danbury Park Cup

Rising nine-year-old Cool Water Paddy (Ohoka Arizona) added another feature race win to his harness racing record when sprinting home best to score off a 10m handicap in the Doug Martin Danbury Park Cup (2698m) in Launceston on Sunday night.

Driver Rodney Ashwood got the Juanita McKenzie pacer away well in the standing start event to settle behind the race leader, Diamonds N Cash, soon after the start.

After some slow early sections, the field charged down the back straight in a 26.8s third quarter, with Cool Water Paddy ($16) able to get into clear racing room near the 400m, to sprint home best in a 28.3s final section to defeat Glenledi Elvis ($1.75 fav) and Magnetic Terror ($6.50) in a mile rate of 2:03.6s.

“Rodney drives him great, particularly from the stand. Rocket Rod is my nickname for him,” said part-owner Jamie Cockshutt post-race.

“I’m bloody over the moon, his a very special horse as I race him with my three best mates in life,” said Cockshutt, who races the horse with Barry Cooper, David Kamaric and Adam Aherne.

“He is named after David’s late father Paddy. I told him when I found the right horse, we would name it after him, and Cool Water Paddy was the one.”

After finishing runner-up to Sunny Sanz in the Keith Stanley Debutante Stakes in 2018, Cool Water Paddy wasn’t seen for over a year until returning to win the Tasmanian Guineas in 2019.

“He burst on the scene winning nine on end (during 2019 and 2020), then Covid hit, and honestly, it took him a while to come back, but all credit to Juanita (McKenzie) for getting him back racing as well, as he is almost a 9yo.

“We previously did discuss retiring him, but Juanita always had confidence in him so I doff my cap to her,” said Cockshutt.

The night’s other feature race was the Shirley Martin Mother Of Pearl (2200m) which was won by Out Of Eden ($3.80 fav), continuing the dominant run of the Conor Crook and Jordan Chibnall combination.

Victorian trainer Dean Braun and local driver Rohan Hillier also had a good night at the office with a winning treble.

They won the one-lifetime-win pace with Sherocks Sherolls ($2.90), who led all the way to run a state fillies and mares record of 1:54.1s, which also equalled Magician’s track record that he set in July.

Their other winners were Mach Major ($2.05 fav) and James In Charge ($1.22 fav).

Also recording multiple wins on the card was concession driver Lachlan Dakin, who landed his first winning double aboard Believe In Forever ($81) and Magic Joe ($5).

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing