Age and experience got the win

Age and experience won out in the third race at the Gore Harness Racing Club’s meeting at Wyndham today (Aug. 11).

The older more seasoned Katherine (Shadow Play) outstayed the undoubtedly talented Spirit of Arion in the Woodland Stud Mobile Pace.

Driver Sam Thornley stayed out of the early rush and settled Katherine midfield on the outside. With plenty of pace on mid race, Thornley sat and waited and when Spirit Of Arion took the lead inside the last 600 metre Katherine made her challenge.

It took the length of the straight for her to beat her younger less experience rival, by half a length.

KATHERINE REPLAY

“That was the first time he’s driven her. I thought it was a masterly drive from Sam. He followed the script. The second horse was tremendous and looks to be a nice type,” trainer Bruce Negus said.

His wife Colleen shares in the ownership of the Shadow Play mare who has been stabled at Denis O’Connell’s Waikouaiti stable for the last week and the change of scenery certainly worked today. It was Katherine’s fifth win from thirty four starts, and she’s been placed twelve times.

“She’s a lovely horse to work with and she’s very kind but if she wants to go somewhere she goes. So when you’re walking her you’ve got to be in control,” Colleen said.

Negus who’s been training since 1983 has trained over five hundred winners. He hit the headlines in the 1998 season when outstanding juvenile Courage Under Fire burst onto the scene.

Katherine’s pedigree goes back to six win mare Paula Brigade which was trained by Harry Cox at Winton. Negus was married to Cox’s daughter Gaynor so his knowledge of the family stems back a long way.

“It’s a great maternal line. I got her so cheap ($1,000) because her older brothers and sisters hadn’t done much.”

It was the perfect result for Katherine as the race carried a junior driver concession. The mare will now head to the Kurow meeting at Oamaru on Sunday week.

“I think she’ll be competitive in the good fillies and mares races later in the season,” Bruce said.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart for Southern Harness