A buck and a win for Mad Jack

Mad Jack (Love You) put on a bit of a rodeo act prior to racing today (Dec. 24) but when it came to trotting, the three year old showed his class, beating a quality field at the Winton Harness Racing Club’s Christmas Eve meeting at the Central Southland Raceway.

Trained by Amber Hoffman, Mad Jack was bred by Stephen Heffernan who’s a friend of Hoffman’s. 

“He’d been down south and has been quite naughty. Stephen turned him out at Middlemarch and let him grow up. He’s been a work in progress and has a few quirks. He got on the track today and bucked all the way down the straight. Andrew Suddaby has done a lot of work with him,” Hoffman said.

Heffernan races the gelding in partnership with Scott Mortimer and the horse looked unlucky not to have won his last start.

“He just couldn’t steer him. Otherwise I think he would have gone close.”

The win today was Mad Jack’s second in seven starts and Hoffman says there should be more to come.

“He didn’t have to ask him today so there was probably more in the tank. He’s a nice horse and should win a couple more.” 

Mad Jack is out of the Majestic Son mare Sporting Ella which is a half-sister to Moniburns (Monarchy) which won seven races for Kirstin Green and Tank Ellis.

MAD JACK REPLAY

Meanwhile Ohoka Connor (Sunshine Beach) impressively won on debut in the Alabar NZ Limited Mobile Pace.

The upstanding two year old looked awkwardly placed with 400 metres to run but driver Nathan Williamson was able to angle him off the inside and he powered home to beat Duke Of Scotland (Sweet Lou) by a length. The 2400 metres was run in 2-56.3 which is a new track and Southland record.

The previous record of 2-56.5 was held by Duke Of Cornwall (Sweet Lou) Duke Of Scotland’s full brother.

The win helped extend Steve and Amanda Telfer’s lead over Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen in the New Zealand Trainers Premiership. They now lead by three. 

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink