Always Ticking and Le Twist good chances in Fillies feature

Ryal Bush harness racing trainer Brett Gray is looking to repeat history (albeit from the grandstand) with Always Ticking (Always B Miki) in Sunday’s Group Three Cheviot Licensing Trust Leonard Memorial.

Gray drove Cairn Legacy, the winner of the 1995 edition of the two year old Fillies feature as a junior driver for his late father Murray. The win was Brett’s only Group success in his sixty one race winning career.

“It was a bit of a thrill. I think it was my first Group drive. She was a big strong two year old who came down the outside,” Gray said. 

Always Ticking, owned by Robert and Sharyn Symon, has started twice for two seconds, both behind talented Southland filly Flying Ellie (Art Major).

“She (Always Ticking) seems pretty good. We’ve put a pair of pulldown blinds on her because when she was getting to the front she was just knocking off. She’s still a bit green but I think she’s improved a wee bit.”

The Symon’s purchased Always Ticking from David Thompson after having success with the filly’s half-sister American Eryetime (American Ideal) which has won five races.

Gray says if his filly gets a good trip he’s sure she’ll be in the finish.

“She worked well this morning so we’re pretty happy with that.”

Southland owned horses have a great record in the Leonard. Previous winners from the province are Yankee Score (1973), Golden Nurse (1974), Tact Del (1976), Dreamy Atom (1994), Cairn Legacy (1995), Windermere Girl (1998), Happy Go Lucky (1999), Western Dream (20050, (Natal Franco (2007), Hemisphere (2008) and Just Gorgeous (2012). 

Meanwhile Burnham trainer Mark Jones with the recently qualified Le Twist, (Sweet Lou) looks to have a good chance of featuring in the finish. 

Purchased at the 2022 Auckland Yearling Sale for $40,000, she is out of Bettor’s Delight mare Spandau Ballet whose dam Giveitawhirlgirl (Jenna’s Beach Boy) is the mother of seven win mare Twist And Twirl, (Artsplace) so there’s plenty of pedigree there.

“Le Twist’s owner Mick Harvey races his horse under Go Racing Australia. He owns King Of Swing and he’s got a lot of horses in Australia both galloping and trotting. She’s got King Of Swing on her page (pedigree page) and she’s quite a nice filly too,” Jones said. 

Le Twist qualified at Rangiora a week ago and Jones has decided to press on and race her.

“Normally we give them a couple of trials. This race is a couple of weeks earlier than we would like it but she trialled good and with a $30,000 race on the back doorstep we thought we’d take her. She can have a break afterwards. I wouldn’t put her in there if I didn’t think we could win, she’s got a bit to learn but she is quite a nice filly with a wee bit of a future.”

Jones won the Cheviot feature in 2016 with Delightful Memphis (Bettor’s Delight).

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink