A day for the oldies

Age proved no barrier at Ascot Park today.

Previous Southland Harness Racing Secretary Peter Burns and his wife Rewa share in the ownership of Ever Ready with their daughter Julie Kilkelly and today the Falcon Seelster gelding rocked punters in the first race winning at odds of 52-1.

From eight starts the horse's best placing prior to yesterday had been a fourth for Tisbury trainer Kirstin Barclay.

The four year old is out of Abba Bromac which Julie raced with her husband Tom. Abba Bromac was bred by Bob McArdle of Bromac Lodge.  

“Bob was a friend of Peter's from years ago and he came down and sold them Ever Ready. We raced his half-sister (Ashira Bromac). He’s a one speed type of horse and Kirstin did the job today. Peter was shaking (with excitement),” said Tom.

Ever Ready and Kirstin Barclay beating a game Razcal Alley – Photo Bruce Stewart. 

Later in the day Night March, a seven year old by Courage Under Fire, won his third race for veteran Gore trainer Maurice Kerr.

It was the horse's seventy fifth start and he's been a consistent pacer all through his five seasons of racing. 

“He’s been a good little horse. We bred him and he’s been here all his life. I do it just as a hobby now. I could have sold him but decided not to,“ said Kerr who drove the horse for three starts prior to retiring at the end of the 2014 season. 

“I’ve always stuck to the local drivers like Robin Swain and Brent Barclay," he said.

Night March (11) and Brad Williamson winning at Ascot Park today – Photo Bruce Stewart

Kerr began driving in the late 1960s for his father Davey Kerr, then started training in his own right in 1978. He's trained over 200 winners in that time but has scaled down over the years. 

“I’m working four horses. There’s a couple of three year olds that might be alright next year. They haven’t been off the place yet. It’s enough to keep me going.”

Lyndon Bond, son of Jimmy Bond who was Maurice Kerr's old driving buddy, also produced a winner on the Invercargill card today when Martin McGuinness, another son of Falcon Seelster, won the second Invitation Drivers race in the hands of Sam Ottley.

Bred by the Grice brothers, he's been a model of consistency throughout his sixty starts and todays win was his fifth.

“He’s an awesome wee horse to have. He’s nothing brilliant but if he gets the right run he does the job," said Bond.

The six year old is raced by a group of mates and their wives who go by the In Touch Syndicate. All are from Mataura where Bond trains.

When asked who makes up the syndicate Bond said "Snow Swain – he’s the supervisor on the Mutton Slaughter chain. He’s a bit of a hard case and follows the horses everywhere. He’ll be at the Mataura pub – The Zoo. Others in the group are my wife, Peter Hazlemore and Mike Cain and their wives. The Cains were the only ones here today.”

From barrier two on the second row Ottley placed Martin McGuinness fifth early as McKenzie Mara and Canardly Remember went to war up front.

"They were going hard which was his go." 

Martin McGuinness ended up five back on the inside. Ottley managed to get him off the running line before the 600 metres but had plenty of work to do with most of the field in front of her. He was starting to run on, got a nice drag into the run home on the back of Lorretta Franco before charging through late to beat Grace Burns by a neck. 

Martin McGuinness and Sam Ottley – Photo Bruce Stewart.

“It was penalty free today. He’s won five races so he’s been a neat wee horse for the syndicate.”

The win capped off a great day for the Bond and Kerr families with both horses travelling to the track in the same truck.

“Maurice and Dad were masters and they’ve been together all the way through. The horses travelled to the races together today. There were only two horses on the truck and they both won. My horse can get a bit cantankerous on the float and he’ll kick with another horse in beside him. Maurice will be smiling and Dad will be sitting at home with a grin and a half on.”

Although not on track Lyndon said his father would be at home getting a thrill out of both horses winning. Bond retired from race driving in 2014 after a bad smash at Wyndham.

“He has his ups and downs but he’s getting out of bed and bouncing around doing the yards in the morning and the jog team so he’s still full on. He does a great job.”

Lyndon says Martin McGuinness's next start will be at Oamaru on the grass.

"He loves the grass." 

Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing