Cameron gets himself a weekend double

Kyle Cameron might not have the glamour horse flesh of some of his Canterbury contemporaries, but he is having himself a harness racing season to remember in 2022.

The Fernside horseman scored himself a winning double as a driver over the weekend to take his tally to 15 wins for the season, matching last year’s figure with three and a half months still to go.

His UDR is sitting at .1898 which is easily his best since clearing the junior ranks a decade ago.

Cashem (Master Glide) kicked the weekend off on a great note when he took out the maiden trot on the first of the card at Addington Raceway in Cameron’s own colours.

The son of Master Glide stepped well and trailed talented filly The Fiery Countess, a position he was always going to remain in with Alan Clark assuming his usual front running tactics throughout.

“He’s always sort of been knocking but a 2000m stand is really his go,” said Cameron. “We gave him a good freshen up and he got the job done for a nice stake which was very nice. “He’s probably going to be alright in that next grade, but that will probably be his lot to be honest. He’s not going to race through the grades, but he is a lovely little horse to have in the barn,” he said.

CASHEM REPLAY

For complete Addington race results, click here.

Cameron went to Ashburton Raceway on Sunday with tempered expectations for his two runners and came away with a win and a fifth placing.

He replicated his drive from Friday night at headquarters, stepping Pure Courage (Courage Under Fire) away well from the stand and working to the front before handing up to Matthew Williamson and Kingsdown Atom (American Ideal).

He remained in the trail for the last mile of the 2400m affair and sprinted best to hold off a fast-finishing Foveaux Gambler (Betting Line).

“I thought it was a big jump in grade and the way the handicaps worked I didn’t think it would be in his favour,” said Cameron.

“I was really happy with his last start and when I went round to drive him earlier in the week Kevin said he was the best he had ever had him which gave me the confidence to press forward early, and he went accordingly. Kevin was spot on with his assessment.

“I’ve always had a little bit of time for him not that his form line has always shown it. He’s definitely improving in himself and is steering a little bit straighter with the murphy blind on which has definitely been a big help in his last few starts. I think he can go a wee bit further through the grades though,” he said.

PURE COURAGE REPLAY

It’s been an impressive winter for the son of Courage Under Fire who has now had two wins and three placings from his last eight starts. His previous 27 starts had only yielded three placings. Since June, Port Courage has been a model of consistency and hasn’t finished further back than fifth suggesting he has well and truly turned a corner.

Cameron is enjoying his time in the cart this season and concedes his success has come from the horse flesh he is sitting behind more than any improvements of his own.

“I think I’m just driving a little bit better horses and you learn a wee bit over time too. But the stables I’m driving for are all in pretty good form, Kevin James is having a good year and Gerard McCrae’s trotter (Prince Teka) is in pretty good form too, and is very consistent.

“I’m just having a bit of a run where all the stables I’m driving for are in a form which is a big help, and my own stable is probably as big as it’s ever been.

“We’re working 16 horses, but I had a big race team earlier in the year. I think I had about 8-10 racehorses in work at one time where I usually have more young ones that I’m working with.

“Having that bigger team in work early kick-started the season well and I had a really good January which put a few runs on the board early and put us in good stead for the rest of the year,” he said.

With only two winners needed to eclipse his previous best driving mark of 17 wins achieved as a junior in 2010, Cameron expects to get there and is looking forward to a stable favourite making its way back to the races this week.

“Whiskey Cavalier (Sir Lincoln) is nominated for Friday night, and he is probably my nicest horse in the stable,” he said.

The son of Sir Lincoln has already won two races this term and has three race wins and three placings from just 15 starts.

He also points to his other stable runner over the weekend as a horse to follow for the future.

“I really like my maiden Starlight Gazer (Pegasus Spur) who had her first start yesterday at Ashburton for a fifth, I have a bit of time for her and think she will win a few races with time.”

For complete Ashburton race results, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink