Aveross Majesty the grass wonder

Veteran trotter Aveross Majesty (Majestic Son) has an affinity with grass track harness racing and yesterday he won his twelfth race and his nineth on the grass.

The nine year old squaregaiter who started his career as a three year old with Andrew Faulks, has been trained for most of his life by his owner Denis O’Connell but is now under the care of Darryn Simpson.

“He wasn’t trotting 100% so Denis sent him up here for a change of environment. We had him reshod the day and he’s got aluminium’s all round. We’ve changed a bit of gear and tried to make him as happy as we can. He’s got better and better and got his confidence back,” Simpson said.

Driver Sam Ottley settled Aveross Majesty in the last half of the field and was four back on the inside with a lap to run. She got him off the inside and with 500 metres to run he came four wide on the back of Diamond Harbour. He let down nicely in the home stretch and held out a late challenge from Brian Beatt to win by a nose.

AVEROSS MAJESTY REPLAY

Oamaru has been his favourite grass surface with four wins. His other wins on the grass have been at Mt Harding (2), Wingatui, Cromwell and Akaroa.

“I think he’s still good on the grit. He’ll race this Easter Monday at Motukarara, and the plan is for him to go back down to Denis’s”.

It’s not the first time Simpson has trained a winner for O’Connell, among others are Its Alf, Its Elvis, Alexy and Vigoroso.

“He’s probably been one of my biggest supporters. He’s always had horses with me and the whole family have been great. I’ve got five or six horses of his up here at the moment.”

Simpson’s first winner was trotter Hanover Pride which he co-owned with the late Viv Anngow and of his 107 winners, 61 have been trotters.

“It probably helped that I worked with Stuey Campbell who was good with trotters and Murray (Edmonds) was great with trotters too.”

Formerly training at Forbury Park and Oamaru, Simpson is now based at Motukarara.

“I’ve been here coming up two years now. I did my early days for three or four years with Murray and Kelly Edmonds when I was a junior driver. It’ s been really good up here and I’ve had a lot of support. I’m busy enough, things are going good and probably will just get better.”

Simpson currently has nine horses in work.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink