Akuta and I Dream Of Jeannie double down

Both Akuta (Bettor’s Delight) and I Dream Of Jeannie (Pegasus Spur) won their respective feature harness races at Oamaru today.  

Akuta sat parked in today’s pacing feature the $40,000 Group Three Placemakers Hannon Memorial and still won, beating Dalton Shard by one and a half lengths with Macandrew Aviator a head back in third. 

“He felt great and was nice and kind out there. Bob (Butt) looked like he wanted to stay in front so I didn’t push the issue,” co trainer and driver Mark Purdon said. 

His winning time of 3-11.4 was a new track and race record, lowering Cullen’s Creek (2010) and Spankem’s (2019) joint record of 3-13.4. 

“He’s really only had three starts and one was a pretty tame affair. I think there’s still improvement in him. He was getting a little tired at the end but he was entitled to.” 

AKUTA REPLAY

Purdon says Akuta is exactly where he needs to be, with some big assignments in front of him. 

“Perhaps he’ll have a start in the Methven Cup.” 

Akuta joins Franco Ledger (2012 and 2013), Iraklis (1997 and 1998), Blossom Lady (1990 and 1993), Idolmite (1980 and 1981, Palestine (1976 and 1997) and Johnny Globe (1951 and 1954) as dual winners of the Hannon.  

The Robert and Jenna Dunn trained I Dream Of Jeannie was given the perfect trip by driver John Dunn and was too good in the $40,000 Group Three Jasmyn’s Gift Stakes, beating Paige by half a length with Hidden Talent two lengths back in third. 

“We got a good enough trip. She stepped away nice and was four or five back on the outer and the tempo was nice up front. When I peeled her she handled that last bend probably the best she has since I’ve driven her. She can sometimes go a bit rough at Addington on the last bend. She did it quite nice and I never pulled the ear plugs,” Dunn said. 

I DREAM OF JENNIE REPLAY

The winning time of 3-17.4 lowered Hidden Talent’s mares record of 3-18.8 and was just outside Mooney’s allcomers record of 3-17.2. 

It’s the second time I Dream of Jeannie has won this race as she won the inaugural trotting feature in 2022 when trained by Sam Smolenski.   

“We got the horse off Sam. He was concentrating more on his chiropractic work and spending more time with the kids and he told the owners to send her out our way. She came to us as a fit and healthy horse and she’d race at that top level for a good number of years. All her work is down on the beach. There are always different tides and different people out there. It freshens us up and I’m picking it definitely freshens her up as well.” 

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink