Aviator charts a winning path

There was no more deserving win at the Northern Southland Trotting Club meeting today (Jan. 19) than that of harness racing gelding Macandrew Aviator (Panspacificflight).

The six year old gelding has travelled to Canterbury and beyond more than most, but hadn’t been rewarded as well as he should have been.

However today was his day in the $30,000 Group Three Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup.

“It’s very satisfying. He’s been knocking of a long time, and he’s had no real luck in those good races. The old boy deserved it,” trainer Kirstin Green said.

After a false start driver Craig Ferguson got Macandrew Aviator away well in take two of the pacing features and after an early try for the lead, settled for the trailing position behind pacemaker Mach Quillan (Mach Three).

“One thing about him is that he’s quite tractable so you can have a go (for the front) and then settle one back and he relaxes.”

At the end of the 2700 metre test, he proved too good, beating a late charging Pembrook Playboy (Bettor’s Delight) by two lengths with Lumin Caeli (Bettor’s Delight) running third.

MACANDREW AVIATOR REPLAY

“He showed today he can do a bit of work. He had a go for the lead and then had to come out early.”

Macandrew Aviator is owned by the Reidie family who race him with the Kiwi Connection Syndicate.

“They’re a great bunch of owners. They could have given him to a Canterbury trainer, but they’ve opted to keep him down here on the beach. I’m lucky to have him.”

Green said his campaign has gone relatively smoothly and the horse has matured into the role of a well-travelled open class campaigner.

“This time he’s really thrived. We took him up to Addington (2021) and he got a bit nervous being away from home. This season I’ve carted him up and back a few times and we truck him out to the beach so he doesn’t know whether he’s going to the beach or the races (laughter).”

She said he’s come a long way in the four seasons he’s been racing.

“As an early two year old he couldn’t work 3-30 (2400 metres) and he used to cross fire badly. Each time he’s come back into training he’s got better and better. We knew he had potential, but you couldn’t work him that hard. Now he can manage it and you can race him more regularly.”

It wasn’t a good watch for Green who headed back to the stables after the first attempt to get the race underway.

“I’m the worst viewer in the world. After the false start I walked back down and put the bridle on a horse in the stalls and hid away until he was away cleanly again.” 

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink