Addington Raceway round-up

The Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained, Mataderos (Dream Vacation), was back in the harness racing winners circle on Friday night (Sep. 2) at Addington Raceway.

Last years Dominon runner-up was second up in his campaign to go one better in the cup week trotting feature, and despite a few nervous moments was resolute in holding off a gallant Chief Of Staff and The Fox.

Mataderos and John Dunn took advantage of a fairly shocking start that saw him almost equal marks with those 10m in front of him, with race rival and back marker Oscar Bonavena almost 30m behind when the tapes were released.

The Regan Todd-trained runner added to his handicap by galloping shortly after dispatch and it was soon clear it would be a race in three with the placegetters being the only trotters to make clean beginnings.

Trainer Robert Dunn was pleased to see his charge back in the winners’ circle and confessed to holding his breath as the field made their way down the back straight the final time.

“Heart in mouth stuff really and it was a great drive by Johnny,” he said.

“He just run out a bit on the back straight and when he does that, he gets a bit off balance as we know, so there is still a bit of work to do with him.

“It was a great result for the owner Jamie Mackinnon and there is still plenty of time to get him spot on for the Dominion.”

MATADEROS REPLAY

Mataderos was a revelation last campaign where he worked his way through the grades showing an aptitude for the grass tracks before running 3:56.8 in the Dominion to finish a length behind Sundees Son.

His inability to go right-handed has seen him race primarily in Canterbury despite his owner purchasing him from Australia with Alexandra Park in mind.

“He just really struggles that way round. We took him up for a look at Alexandra Park for the Rowe Cup meeting and after one lap around the track and canned it straight away.

“He was a very nervous horse when he was a young horse in Australia and had quite a few educational heats over there and took a while to get his act together,” he said.

Mataderos wasn’t the only son of the champion trotting mare La Coocaracha to win on Friday night with his half-brother, The Locomotive (Muscle Mass), winning the Group One Nutrien Final for two-year-old trotters at Menangle.

Others to impress on Friday night at Addington Raceway included the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained Coney Island Lou (Sweet Lou).

The two-year-old Coney Island Lou was having his second race day start and was sent straight to the lead by his pilot Blair Orange.

The pair never surrendered the lead and careered away to win by 3 and ¾ lengths.

BD Joe (Roll With Joe) showed in his race day resumption that his New Zealand Cup aspirations are very much alive and well after winning the feature pace on the card.

The back marker made a clean beginning which was probably the biggest concern for the $2.30 favourite backers. He was given a cart into the race by Mikey Maguire and once he wrestled the lead off him with a lap to go was far too strong for his opposition.

Despite being the first week of spring it must be said it was a disappointing eight-race card with nominations well down on the same week last season.

Ashburton on Sunday hasn’t fared much better however both were run in conjunction the same week last season and attracted nearly 80 more runners than the two clubs will host this weekend.

For complete race results, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink