Disco Inferno cuts shapes at Ascot Park

Disco Inferno (Fear The Dragon) made the most of some fast early sectionals to come over the top of his ten rivals and win at the Tuapeka Harness Racing Club meeting at Ascot Park today.

Gore trainer Wayne ‘Syd’ Breen has had the horse for just seventeen days after he was brought south by Canterbury trainer Jonny Cox.

“Mark (Hurrell) rang me when I was coming down for the Northern Southland races with Sagwitch. I had just retired America Mac that week, after he went in the suspensory. I’ve been good mates with Jonny for years. I used to always have a yarn to his grandfather Harry at the races. He was a great old character and Jonny’s much the same. He (Jonny Cox) gave me the horse and the hopples,” Breen said.

Bronson Munro broke in Disco Inferno as a yearling and after qualifying at Ashburton he had two starts for Cox – one at Wyndham and other at the Northern Southland meeting.

“Jonny said he just lacked a bit of speed but I’ve got on really good with him. He’s a lovely wee horse to work with – an absolute gentleman.”

The three year old gelding is out of Hot Toddy which won three races for Ken Barron.

“I used to back her all the time and the grandmother (Lady Toddy) was quite good too. She won the Breeders Stakes, and the Fear The Dragons seem to be winning a few races. My Uncle Alan McVicar has a half-brother to Disco Inferno in Captain Starlight.”

Leading into today’s race Breen was relatively confident, especially after one of the early favourites Vintage Miki, was scratched.

“I went down to pick up some stuff the other day from Mark and he asked me how the horse worked.  I told him like a winner. I didn’t think we were on with a round to go. Geez they were flying but he’s a willing wee horse.”

In today’s Thompson Contacting/ Life Members Mobile Pace, Janaka’s Delight and Jayar Mac got revved up early and opened up the field with Disco Inferno back second last and pacing on his own.

Inside the last 800 metres Hurrell plotted a path along the inside running line. As the pain points started to kick in with the leading group, the gaps opened up and Hurrell brought Disco Inferno down the middle of the track to beat Mighty Miki by three quarters of a length.

DISCO INFERNO REPLAY

Although not officially named in the race book, Disco Inferno is owned by George Orr, Brian McLennan, Ross and Maria Hurrell, Breen’s sisters Tracey Millan and Rhonda Andrew and their brother Mark Breen.

“I’ve only got two racehorses now, him and Saggy, and he’s (Sagwitch) probably on his last six months.”

As Breen grew up in the disco era, did he ever break out the moves on the disco floor?

“I was never much of a dancer. I stayed at home and listened to Reg Clapp at Alexandra Park with his comments like ‘more breaker than Piha’ and to Lachie Marshall calling the gallops. My mother Joan when she was alive, was a very good ball room dancer. She won a gold medal which is about as high as you can get.”

So, what’s next for Disco Inferno?

“There’ll be plenty of races for him over Christmas time. I think he’ll be quite a good wee stand horse. A standing start round Roxburgh would be his go.”

In one of the highlights of the afternoon, Samanthas Moon (One Over Da Moon) took out the main trot with trainer driver Kirsten Green adopting ‘catch me if you can’ tactics as she did the previous week on the same track.

Owned by Murray Swain, the eight year old mare, although out of gas at the end of the 2700 metre trip, held on to beat Cody Banner by two and a half lengths. The winning time was 3-29.3 with the last 800 metres run in 62.4 seconds.

SAMANTHAS MOON RELAY

The win was the mare’s sixth lifetime win and her second for Swain and Green.

Meanwhile the Shane Matheson trained trotting mare Abadabado (Superfast Stuart) handled in front by Sam Ottley, won the Johnstone Electrical/Goodman Plumbing Trot.

It’s the eight year old mare’s eighth win.

ABADABADO REPLAY

And Bobbies Rock (A Rocknroll Dance) gave owners Tom and Julie Kilkelly the perfect sendoff when he won the R41-R7 pace.

BOBBIES ROCK REPLAY

After the win the Kilkellys headed away in their campervan to see their trotter Fiery Bandito race in the Ashburton Trotters Sprint at Ashburton tomorrow. From there, they’ll head to the two day meeting at Kaikoura.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink