Fresh young faces in the bike at Ascot Park

Two young horsemen with plenty of pedigree commenced their harness racing journey in a demonstration Kidz Kartz event at Ascot Park yesterday.

Charlie Morris and Harrison Saunders both eight years old, fought out a tight finish in the two horse event on the grass track.

Although they’ll both continue to get plenty of practice, they won’t officially be allowed to race in Kidz Kartz events until they’re ten. I’m sure that can’t come soon enough.

Charlie is the son of Invercargill horseman Brad Morris who’s trained nine winners. As a driver he’s won forty one races, his first being Papilloma, for his late grandfather Ron Macdonald of Chipaluck fame.

Brad trained and drove Sporty Charlie to finish third at yesterday’s race meeting. The gelding is named after young Charlie.

Charlie’s grandfather Charlie Templeton has been a successful owner for decades and currently races Dalton Shard.

Harrison’s father Matt Saunders trained thirty eight winners out of his Tapanui base between 2014 and 2020. His first winner was Just Ned at the Wairio meeting in December 2014.

Matt played representative rugby for North Otago, Otago and Southland and Super Rugby for the Highlanders. He’s now head coach of the Southland Stags.

As a breeder Saunders bred Salty Robyn which won thirty six races. The gelding won sixteen of his first nineteen starts in Australia and ran third in the 2017 Chariots of Fire.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink