Franco Huntington gives McLachlan his 200th winner

It was appropriate that harness racing warrior Franco Huntington (Changeover) gave Myross Bush trainer Doug McLachlan his 200^th winner at Winton today. He’s been in the stable for many years and is a real favourite.

“For me it was extra special. He owes me nothing and he’s better than the pension,” an emotional McLachlan said.

The eleven year old has been McLachlan’s flagship pacer in recent years and a photo of the gelding takes pride of place on the side of his horse float.

Driver Nathan Williamson sat Franco Huntington in the trail for most of the race, and best up the passing lane, he won by half a neck from Falcons Watch (He’s Watching).

This was the horse’s fourteenth win from two hundred and thirty one starts and he’s won $146,092. in stakes.

FRANCO HUNTINGTON REPLAY

McLachlan’s first winner was two year old Ronnie Mac (Transport Chip) bred by Ronnie and Charlie MacDonald at Ascot Park nearly 30 years ago. He was driven by Kirk Larsen.

Kirstin Green has been the most successful driver for the stable (83) while there’s been good support from John Morrison (18), Simon Pavlovich (16), Dexter Dunn (12), Shane Walkinshaw (12) and Jo Herbert (8).

“Kirstin came down from Dunedin to go to the Invercargill Polytechnic and wanted a job while she was down here. I invited her out here and gave her the job. She’s part of the family now.”

McLachlan and Green’s feature race win was with El Nino (Live Or Die) in the New Zealand Kindergarten Stakes.

Doug’s biggest career winner so far has been Annie’s Boy (Soky’s Atom) with eighteen wins.

“The mare (Can Annie Go) was at home to foal and it was a difficult foaling. He bonded with me right from day one.”

Annie’s Boy had a major win in the 2003 Interdominions Pacers Consolation at Addington in the hands of Clark Barron.

“I remembered in the Interdominions that I needed to get the horse’s blood pressure up so I got Craig Thornley to come round to pre-warm him. The miniature ponies were there and he’d never seen them before. I took him for a walk past them and he went nuts so we didn’t need to pre-warm him. When he got to the 400 he pinned his ears back, flattened out and won the race decisively and went faster than the winner of the Grand Final.”

Not bad for a horse that suffered adversity.

“I had to build three quarters of his hoof on one of his front legs because he’d broken two pedal bones.”

Other good wins for Annie’s Boy were in the Ashburton Cup and Southern Supremacy Stakes. He also finished second in the New Zealand Derby, third in the Flying Stakes and second in both the New Brighton Cup and Kaikoura Cup.

Another good horse for McLachlan was Onedin Pick Pocket (In The Pocket). He won eleven races, was second in the Invercargill Cup and NZ Sires Stakes Two Year Old Final and third in the Ashburton Cup, the Hannon Memorial and the Welcome Stakes.

“You always knew when he was ready. When he started dancing around at the start you went to the tote. He was a very fast horse but he was by In The Pocket and didn’t like to be eyeballed so you had to set him up in the race.”

Bettor’s Brigadier (Bettor’s Delight) which won ten was also handy for the Southland trainer.

“He was a lovely horse and I said to Grant Sim (owner) after I’d driven the horse three times that if he would let me geld him, he’d go to Cup class. Grant never wanted him gelded but he still won ten races.”

Other good winners for McLachlan have been Washington Seattle (8), Quadrifoglio (7), Brigadiers Son (6) and Kagee VC (6).

Doug was quick to mention the marvellous support he gets from his partner Sylvia Crighton.

“A godsend to the stable and she loves them all. She’s at the stable first thing in the morning before she goes to work.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink