Woodend Beach trainer Regan Todd and stable driver Robbie Close achieved a back to back harness racing double at the Northern Southland Trotting Club meeting at Ascot Park today.
The Canterbury combination won with three year old Street Hawk, and again a race later they took out the Group Three Caduceus Club of Southland/Alabar Fillies Classic with locally owned Treacherous Gall.
Street Hawkās run last weekend at the Riverton meeting at Winton was full of merit. He charged home for third in a race won by the talented Sand Wave.
Street Hawk warming up for Robbie Close
Prior to todayās race Close gave the Bettorās Delight gelding a good strong warm up.
āSprinting out of the gate was going to be the winning or losing of the race. He was a lot stronger out of the gate today. Every time heās run from behind the mobile heās got better and better,ā Close said.
Street Hawk trailed leader Cantfindabettorman. As Cantfindabettorman began to struggle just before the home straight Close hooked Street Hawk off the inside running line and once he peeled off Mossdale Benās back he let down nicely. When Close released the ear plug Street Hawk showed a great turn of foot, winning by a length and three quarters from Mossdale Ben, with Mossdale Terry running third.
āIt worked out perfectly and he got a perfect run. Heās always had the ability, but his gait and immaturity have let him down early on.ā
Street Hawk getting a nice trail behind Cantfindabettorman with a lap to run
At the finish
Back to the birdcage
Winning rug on display
Street Hawk was purchased at the Auckland Sales in 2020 for $45,000 by Todd and heās owned by Graham Beirne from Small Car World Limited, Glenys and Phil Kennard, and Graeme Hand.
Todayās win was his second, and heās now qualified for the $50,000 Group Two Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes on Diamonds Day on Saturday 30thĀ April.
A race later, Treacherous Gall won her second race in as many starts when she took out the two year old fillies feature.
Treacherous Gall warming up
āSheās thrived in the week sheās been down here. She just felt a lot more relaxed out there today. She was just flopping around and off the bit which is good at this stage and the trip away has done her the world of good,ā Close said.
At Winton last week Close took the Captaintreacherous filly straight to the lead but in todayās $30,000 feature she settled well off the early pace before slotting into the one one. Just before flattening out for the run home Close hooked the two year old filly out to the middle of the track and she came home with a good turn of foot to beat favourite Micaitlen Denario by a length and three quarters.
āIt was good to get a sit and show everyone how much petrol sheās got. Sheās easy going and a nice pacer and as long as she stays healthy sheās in for a good season.ā
Full noise at the finish
Back to the birdcage
Treacherous Gall is owned by Cleland Murdoch and her breeder Dave Kennedy. Kennedy has a good record in this feature, having bred the 2004 winner Absolutely Brilliant as well as Beaudiene Bad Babe in 2008.
View the Invercargill results click here!