Dash wins the cash

The Greg and Ben Hope trained Midnight Dash (Muscle Hill) took out his first Group trotting feature at Omakau this afternoon when he easily won the $40,000 Group Three Bulk Liquid Solutions Gallagher Gold Cup.

Driver Gemma Thornley settled the nine year old back in the field early, before moving him forward in front of favourite I Dream Of Jeannie, to sit parked.

“I talked to a few of the senior drivers about what to do. I thought, do I go in front of Jeannie or not? In the end I wanted him to keep trucking,” Thornley said.  

At the finish Midnight Dash was two and a quarter lengths in front of I Dream Of Jeannie with another two and a quarter lengths back to Jimmy Carter in third.

MIDNIGHT DASH REPLAY

“He’s such a little warhorse who probably flies under the radar, given that two of his stable mates (Muscle Mountain and Mr Love) are two of the best trotters in the country. Anyone would be grateful to have a horse like him in their barn.”

Prior to the win Midnight Dash has won two Listed trotting features so today was his first Group win.

Thornley who works for the Hopes, has driven the horse in his last ten starts for a win, two seconds and two thirds.

“I’m so grateful to Greg, Ben, Nina and the owners for letting me drive this horse in the Dominion and I’m so grateful to reward everyone for it.”

The win capped off a marvellous day for Thornley. She also won on Cinderella Franco for Steven McRae and Crack N Crunch for David Mitchell.

“I’ve had a good start to it (the season) that’s for sure. Hopefully that can continue. There might be a few celebrations tonight.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink