Clark Barron continues his great run

Clark Barron seems to know when owners Ollie and Irene Haines are in town.
 
Yesterday at Ascot Park was the second time he has produced an I’m Full Of Excuses to win when they've been visiting.

They were here when the Jereme’s Jet gelding won last season’s Southern Supremacy Stakes and again for his win yesterday.
 
Their luck was in as they also saw A Damn Good Excuse take first place for trainer Tony Barron.
 
In the House of Travel Lakers Summer Cup I’m Full Of Excuses bobbled away and settled sixth as Give Me The Night and Groomsman set up a fast early section of the race.

He then progressed forward with a lap and a half to run and took the lead.

With no horses improving in the outside running line, Dexter Dunn on favourite Titan Banner was forced to move three wide from the 600 metres.

At that point Barron started to stoke up I’m Full Of Excuses and that was the winning of the race.

Titan Banner just had too much ground to make up. The margin between the two at the end of the 2700 metres was one and a half lengths.

“He getting his standing starts better even though a horse shot in front of him today. He’s such a good stayer, he just keeps going. It’s going to be tougher against the better horses but he won't disgrace himself,” said Barron.
 
The main target in the next few weeks is the Group Two Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup raced over 3200 metres.
 
“He’s only had one crack at the two miles and he disappointed at Wairio. I blame myself. Bad drive, and he wasn’t fit enough.”
 
The Haines are great investors in the southern harness industry with mares and foals residing at Macca Lodge and racing stock at Clark and Tony Barron’s.
 
Barron trained two winners yesterday at the Northern Southland meeting with the second coming in the form of rising star Southern Pursuit.
 
He speared the gelding out from gate five before handing up to favourite Zenmach.

When Matty Williamson eased the pace on Zenmach with 1800 metres to run, Barron took the lead and from that point kept the pace on.

At the 700 metres he opened the throttle and horses improving wide started the struggle.

When Zenmach was checked and broke at the 500 metres, Southern Pursuit opened up a 10 length break on the main bunch.

The winning margin at the finish was six and a half lengths from Moondyne Joe who chased hard.
 
Southern Pursuit's time of 2-40.0 was just 0.6 of a second off Royal Counsel’s open track record of 2-39.4 recorded when she won the 2014 Southland Oaks. 
 
“He was a big overgrown horse and very gangly. He’s a better horse going quick and now that he’s up running the speeds it sound funny but he’s doing it easier.”
  
The Panspacificflight gelding is owned by his breeders Peter and Julie Keast and has now won four of his six career starts. He's unbeaten in three starts this season and carries a C3 assessment the same as another stable star All Jokes Aside.
 
“He’s got a bit of everything this horse. He’s quite potent when driven from behind like when Brad (Williamson) drove him at Winton. He’s got a good all-round game.”
 
Both Southern Pursuit and All Jokes Aside will be aimed at the Invercargill Cup meeting at the end of the month. 
 
There was no thought of racing either in the Cup.
 
“It’s probably a year too soon. They wouldn’t disgrace themselves but the main thing is that they haven’t done a whole lot of standing starts. I tried All Jokes Aside from the stand once and he didn’t go away so there’s a bit of work to be done there. Southern Pursuit has just had the one standing start at the workouts.”
 
It’s been a stellar season for Barron and the wins seem to come consistently each week.
 
“I’m lucky that none of them (horses) have been for sale so that makes a big difference. Most of these horses perhaps would have been gone a few years ago. It’s a privilege to be able to keep them.”
 
Barron was relatively pleased with his two three year old fillies Rakaporche (3rd) and Rakarazor (5th) who both raced in the three year old fillies’ race.
 
“Rakaporche has enormous ability but with having such a long spell after she had screws in her pastern it’s taken a long time to get her fit. We’re just hoping the racing will bring her on.”

Bruce Stewart – Southland Harness Racing