Doody gets off to a hot start at Manawatu

It was a cracking start to the day for local Palmerston North harness racing trainer Stephen Doody who took out the first two races of today’s Manawatu meeting.

“It was a good day, they all went pretty well and a couple should be well placed for next week after today’s runs,” said Doody.

In the first event of the day Doody trained and drove Johnny Who (What The Hill) to win the Matt Hickey Club Patron Handicap Trot over 2500 metres.

“He’s gone pretty good today and it helped that a few fell away a bit later in the race,” said Doody, “he can be a bit lazy and I actually thought he might have been done up the straight but he kept battling on and then pricked his ears again and was able to get there.”

As the highest rated horse in the race, Johnny Who had a 50 metre handicap to overcome, but after stepping away well, Doody was able to take an economical trip on the marker pegs to end up mid field after 600 metres. With the leading Kiss My Pixel setting a strong pace, Johnny Who continued to progress forward only shifting to the one wide line with around 600 metres to run. On the final bend the gelding briefly tracked the favourite Elizabeth Hill before shifting three wide to level with her. It was a two horse battle up the straight with Johnny Who battling on to get over the top of a tiring Elizabeth Hill in the final stages and win by half a length.

JOHNNY WHO REPLAY

“He’s a nice horse and has done a really good job for us,” said Doody, “he’ll probably head back up to Cambridge for his next start in the Thames Trotting Cup.”

The four-year-old gelding by What The Hill now has six wins to his name alongside 10 placings and earnings of $57,000.

Just half an hour later Doody trained his second winner of the day with Doo You Want Me (Captain Crunch) taking out the Book For Xmas Function 12 December Mobile Pace.

“He’s a nice little horse and his last start at Cambridge was good leading into this so I expected a good run today and earning the 2YO Bonus on top of his winning stakes is great too,” said Doody, “he’s a lovely little horse, he works well and runs good times and I think he’ll be amongst the better batch of the team.”

Driven by leading North Island junior driver Crystal Hackett, the two-year-old gelding capitalised on his ace starting draw to fire off the mobile and lead where he remained for the duration of the event. With around 400 metres to run, Amazing Captain issued a three wide challenge, but Doo You Want Me was too good and with minimal urging from Hackett was able to clinch his maiden win by 0.75 metres.

From five starts the Captain Crunch gelding looks a progressive type, placing third and second at Cambridge in his two starts prior to today’s win.

“He’ll have a few days off now and I’ll sit down and plan where he’ll head next,” said Doody, “Time will be his friend, he’s got a bit of growing to do yet and will be better as a three-year-old.”

The father-son combo of Michael and Wilson House who are a dominant force when they head to Manawatu, also scored a winning double with Delta Kilo earning his maiden win in the Doug Gale Mobile Pace, and Gotta Elect Bill scoring his fifth lifetime win in the Stephen Doody Racing Stables Mobile Pace.

Racing returns to the Manawatu next Monday, November 11.

For complete race results, click here.

by Brigette Solomon, for Harness Racing New Zealand