Bring On The Muscle gets slot

Following a stunning performance in last Monday’s Hambletonian at Ashburton, Bring On The Muscle (Majestic Son) has been snapped up for the $500,000 Majestic Horse Floats LP THE ASCENT by Australian based harness racing owner Scott Whitton, under his Tumby Park brand.

Owned by Jackie Barron and trained by her husband Clark, the whole slot racing experience has been new and interesting for the Rakauhauka couple.

“We didn’t know a lot about it. Greg (O’Connor) has advised us all the way. It’s been pretty sweet really,” Clark said.

Clark says the gelding will race in Tumby Park colours and regular pilot Brent Barclay will be on board.

“They left it up to us (colours) and we just thought that they’re putting up the money.”

Barron said Bring On The Muscle won’t race before the Ascent.

“He may need a workout, but we’ll assess that. He’s certainly bounced through the run (Ashburton) well. He’s full of himself and galloping around. We got home at 11.30pm and he cleaned the bowl. We decided between Jackie, Brent and me that we had to travel to make him.”

The slot races have put the Rakauhauka area in Southland on the map with Barron’s neighbour Brendan Fahy holding a slot in The Velocity with the Dreams Are Free Syndicate and Nathan Williamson. That slot has been allocated to their star three year old pacer Dreams Are Free.

Barron has trained thirty eight winners for his neighbour over thirty two years, the first being Rakalooka at Ascot Park in January 1992.

Fahy flew into Auckland this morning after being in America for the Breeders Crown.

“Our places are 500 yards apart and we’ve both got horses in the slot races. Jimmy (Jimmy Sinclair – Fahy’s son-in- law) said to me that it’s going to get more exciting when the big fella gets home. I’ve been an enthusiast, but he’s been one forever. As Brendan would say, if you’re not in you can’t win,” continued Clark.

The Barron’s daughter Ellie, who spent some time in harness racing before heading overseas to the UK, will also be home for the race.

“You wouldn’t believe it. She flies home the day before Cup Week. She always planned to be at the Cup and we weren’t going until things (the Slot race) got talked about yesterday.”

Scott Whitton races horse in Australia with ‘Ultimate’ as their middle name and owns three year old trotter My Ultimate Sunny who’s won five of his seven starts. Like Bring On The Muscle he too is by Majestic Son.

Whitton has also had success with My Ultimate Ronnie (Bettor’s Delight) which has won 19 races including the Listed $100,000 Milbrae Quarries Riveria Championship, My Ultimate Byron (Somebeachsomewhere) the winner of eleven including the Group One APG Two Year Old Colts and Geldings Bullion, and My Ultimate Levi (Betting Line) which won the Group One Brisbane APG Sales Graduates Final.

Other Group winners for Tumby Park have been My Ultimate Star (Bettor’s Delight), and My Ultimate Jacko, (Art Major) both trained by Jarrod Alchin.

Whetton has also raced horses in New Zealand including My Ultimate Chevron (Sweet Lou) which won the G3 Sapling Stakes when trained by Gavin Smith.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink