Tonkawaikon is home with the Smiths

Punters put their faith in talented three-year-old Tonkawaikon (Downbytheseaside) at Globe Derby Park on Saturday, and he didn’t let them down.

Backed from $2.15 into $1.33 favourite, Tonkawaikon was taken to the front from gate four in the Akouztik – Live At The Globe June 30 Pace (2230m) by harness racing reinsman Michael Smith and was never really challenged cruising home by two metres.

It was left to Ima Workinclassman ($6), driven by Smith’s father David, to chase the winner and take second, 10 metres in front of Whodat Boodat ($34).

Tonkawaikon is trained at Penfield by the winning reinsman’s mother Ingrid who revealed the gelding had come into her stable as a complete surprise.

“David and I were at an Adelaide yearling sale a few years back and Tonkawaikon was purchased for $10,500 by David Heinjus from Sydney,” Smith said.

“Shortly after the sale, we received a call from David, who we had never met, asking if we would break him in, and he has been on the property ever since.

“He had purchased the colt online and had been advised that we would be good to break him in and we are grateful to be training him.”

TONKAWAIKON REPLAY

Tonkawaikon now has three wins and two seconds from just seven starts and has more than repaid his price through stakemoney and breeding bonuses.

“He is still a bit green but is certainly getting better, and I believe there is more to come,” Smith said.

“It is really nice to have a good young horse, but this year’s crop of South Australian three-year-olds is incredibly deep.

“Our horse is just one of more than half a dozen than have stood up as quality pacers.”

Michael Smith came away with a driving double winning on the improving Miki Steamed Home in the Happy 95th Birthday Des Cooper Pace (1800m).

Owned and bred by South-East enthusiasts Bob and Zita Maloney, Miki Steamed Home is now trained at Globe Derby Park by Bronte Giorgio.

Sent out at $3.80, the five-year-old settled one-out, one-back, before sprinting home powerfully to win by 10 metres from Celestial Daybreak ($101) with Feisty Jane ($3.40), a head away third.

Giorgio said the mare Steam Washed had been a good racetrack performer and has had five foals to race and all were winners.

“This bloke is different to his relations,” Giorgio said.

“The others are all very one-paced, but this bloke has a very good sprint.

“Once he settled in such a good spot I knew he would be hard to hold out.”

Miki Steamed Home, despite his age, is lightly raced, with four wins and five placings from just 23 starts.

Michael Smith’s father, David, also chimed in with a winner, driving Fly The Banner to victory in the Emerging Stars Pace Series (heat five) over 1800 metres.

Trained by Robbie Caton, Fly The Banner ($2.50 into $1.40 fav) was taken to the front from barrier two and led throughout to win comfortably by seven metres.

The increasing talent pool in South Australia will be on show at Globe Derby Park this Saturday with the $14,999 Emerging Stars Series final where the barrier draw will be crucial.

The top driver of the meeting was Wayne Hill who came away with a treble.

Hill was able to lead throughout on Heston Blue Streak ($1.95 fav) in the Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Pace (1800m) for Penfield training team of Jill Neilson and Katie Wilson.

In winning, Hill relegated his sister Danielle, the comeback queen, to second place on All Aussie Mach ($8.50), trained by Neilson’s son Chris.

His second win was not quite so popular with punters.

Hill got Majestic Courtney ($23) away brilliantly off his 10-metre handicap in the Dancinginthedark M USA @ Aldebaran Park Trotters Handicap (2645m) and took him straight to the front leading throughout to win for trainer Luke O’Neill.

Majestic Courtney landed his first win since October 2022 at Gloucester Park in Perth in scoring by 4-1/2 metres from Xebec ($2.40 fav) with Get Lucky ($34), 5-1/2 metres away third.

He brought up the treble on the very talented Wings On The Line for Gawler trainer Aaron Bain.

Wings On The Line ($1.18 fav) brought up fourth straight win, and eighth of her 10-start career, in coming from last to win the Ladbrokes Blackbook Pace (2230m).

Taking on older horses, Hill allowed the filly to balance up early from gate six, happy to sit at the tail of the field.

He made his move coming into the straight with as lap to go, and despite being three wide for the rest of the race, Wings On The Line came away to win by 3-1/2 metres from Major Mad ($9) with Dont Tell Alice ($19), a similar margin away third.

Another mother-son to combine for a victory were Andrews Farm trainer Mel Kittel and her son Jason.

Hurricane Ed ($6.50), driven by Jason, dashed up the sprint lane to grab victory in the Skyvalley NZ @ Aldebaran Park Trotters Handicap (2230m).

The nine-year-old grabbed the win by a neck from Piesridingshotgun ($9.50), again denying a win to Danielle Hill on her comeback.

Hill rated the runner-up perfectly and looked to have her first win for the year turning for home, but Hurricane Ed sprinted sharply to deny her that win.

For complete race results, click here.

From HRSA Media