Hayley gets fifth win

In what was a tactical race, harness racing junior driver Kerryn Tomlinson got it spot on with Hayley Robyn (Sportswriter) in the Forklifts NZ Mobile Pace at Winton today.

In a field of just six Tomlinson stayed out of the early rush before sitting parked with the five year old mare for most of the race. In the end Hayley Robyn was too good, winning by one and a quarter lengths from Connie Jaccka.

HAYLEY ROBYN REPLAY

“She’s become a consistent mare. It took a while to iron out her training. We seem to be on a winning recipe with her at the moment. Hopefully it stays that way,” trainer Matthew Williamson said.

He added that what works best for the mare regarding training is a light workload and she benefits from being driven in a certain way.

“Driving her at the races is the key thing. She doesn’t like being used early. I was a sucker for it a few times. Even though she was parked today she didn’t do any early work and had a lot more at the end. If you don’t use her early you have a hell of a lot at the end.”

Hayley Robyn is owned by Summit Bloodstock and Aaron Bain Racing, both of whom are Australian based.

“I knew Jake Webster (Summit Bloodstock). The very first horse they bought that started them off was Westar Sam and I took a share in him to help them out. It’s turned into being a juggernaut and they’ve got quite a few with us. They’ve got shares in about four of the yearlings or young stock in the stable. They’re in Princess Sadie. They’ve actually got into every yearling we’ve brought at the sales.”

With her ownership group based in Australia it’s likely Hayley Robyn will head across the Tasman at some point.

“I was saying to them the other day that she may not be a mile away from that but while she’s earning, they’re happy to have her stay here. It’s good.”

 

The win was Hayley Robyn’s fifth in seventy two starts. She’s been placed a further fifteen times, banking over $60,000.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink