Gray day bright for Brett

It might have been a grey old day at the Ascot Park harness racing track today but that didn’t stop Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray from gearing up three winners.

His first win came in the Newfield Sports Bar Trot when Timmy Turtle (Skyvalley) driven by Brent Barclay overcame a midrace break to get up and beat Rewiri Hill.

The three year old is named after Gray’s good mate Tim ‘Turtle’ Williams and is owned by Gray’s wife Gina, William’s partner Aimee Edmonds and one of Gray’s stable helpers Russell Morton.

The gelding is out of Easy Option (Great Success) which was owned by the late Kevin Strong, but lived at Macca Lodge.

“I went up to Macca Lodge one day and there was a foal there that was for sale. It was cheap. A couple of grand. I said I’d take it but Macca, (Brent McIntyre) he didn’t tell me the mare was part of the deal. He got me there, (laughter)” Gray said.

Williams had given Gray a share in Don Coyote so Gray returned the favour by putting the Canterbury horseman and Edmonds into the horse.

“Gina came up with the name Timmy Turtle while Aimee wanted to call it something else which may not have been accepted so we went with Timmy The Turtle. Much to his horror.”

Today was the horse’s second start, after he made a mistake and made up a lot of ground on debut.

“He’s a lovely wee horse and Brent loves him. He’s a great gaited horse but he’s still a wee bit green. It’s hard when you go to the races and there are big fields after running round with two or three at the trials. He got a bit of stage fright and had a wee gallop but he won with the plugs in and did it pretty easy.”

The winning margin was three quarters of a length.

“He’s got a lot of natural ability and a bit of bottom to him.”

In the next race Janaka’s Delight (Bettor’s Delight) showed plenty of tenacity to hold out a late charge from Black Pat while Sodoyahavtime (Art Major) also trained by Gray, won the Northern Tavern Mobile Pace.

JANAKA’S DELIGHT REPLAY

SODOYAHAVTIME REPLAY

“He’s been off for a year. Brent thinks he’s got a bit more to offer, so hopefully with a bit more fitness he’ll get there.”

Owned by Havtime Breeding Limited the three year old led from barrier one and held out Havarti Arden (Betterthancheddar) to win by a head.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink