Duke Of Scotland (Sweet Lou) finally got his maiden win at the Invercargill Harness Racing meeting at Ascot Park yesterday.
As a three year old Duke Of Scotland owned by Lester Smith, raced against the best in his age group in the south, finishing seventh in last yearās Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes behind Ohoka Connor.
āHeās still got a bit of filling out to do but itās the best weāve had him looking,ā trainer Lauren Pearson said.
In yesterdayās McLeay Jewellers Mobile Pace driver Nathan Williamson pushed the gelding through from the second line to trail early leader Montage. Just before turning in Williamson eased the gelding off the inside and Duke Of Scotland was driven out to win by two and a quarter lengths from Cruising Fontana.
āHe finally got a run to suit him, so it worked out good.ā
Pearsonās other runner first starter Wild Bull (Raging Bull), started favourite on the back of some impressive trials and workouts but had no luck in the running and battled home for fifth, four lengths from his stablemate.
āHe didnāt really know what he was doing but he went alright. Heās got potential.ā
Early in the day Duke Of Scotlandās half-sister Duchess Of Kent (Art Major) qualified.
Duke Of Scotland is out of Galleons Honour whoās been an outstanding broodmare for Smith with all of her eight foals qualifying. Seven of her progeny between them have won fifty six races with the mareās biggest winner being Duke Of Cornwall (Sweet Lou) fourteen wins. Her other winners have been Dazed And Confused (9), Venice Beach (11), Duke Of Wellington (8), Rise Above This (9), Broadbeach (4), and Duke Of Scotland (1).
by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink