An amazing twenty four hours for Ox

It’s been an amazing twenty four hours for Te Anau owner trainer Wayne ‘Ox’ McEwan. Tommy Waterhouse got the ball rolling last night at Addington when he dominated a strong harness racing field and won the Listed Betavet Uncut Gems Classic at Addington for Southland trainer driver Kirstin Barclay, and the success continued today when Olly, owned and trained by McEwan, won at Ascot Park.

“The hangover told me about the first one and I dare say there’ll be another one tomorrow,” McEwan said.

Olly winning. One of two wins for Ellie Barron

Barclay took Tommy Waterhouse straight to the lead in last night’s Gems Classic and he held on to beat Anything Goes by a length and a quarter.

“Kirstin was impressed with the way he won it and so was I. In his last few starts from the stand down here he’s been giving them 20 to 30 metres and running on. So last night shows you what he can do from behind a mobile.”

Meanwhile in today’s Ascot Park Hotel Mobile Pace, driver Ellie Barron took Olly straight to the front and held on to beat Ngaroma by half a head with Northview Dance charging home for third a half a head away.

“It was his first front line draw in five or six starts so we thought he’d acquit himself well and he did. We’ve had him in front a bit lately at home and he seems to thrive on it so that was the plan today.”

Returning to the birdcage

Named in the sales catalogue as Jet Black, Ewan bought the horse at the 2020 National Yearling Sales in Christchurch for $15,000.

“I liked the way he looked and presented himself.”

McEwan has recently built a new stable block and put in a track in Te Anau and is currently working twelve horses with help from John Bennett and local Olivia King.

“We tend to get them running along and send them to Kirstin or Ken Barron.”

It was his ninth training success in the RBT (Ryal Bush Transport) colours. His first winner was Kacee Jane at Winton in September 2011.

Both Tommy Waterhouse and Olly were at 13-1 odds.

View the Invercargill results click here!

by Bruce Stewart