House gets 800-Sharpe wins Championship

When Sweet Spirit (Sweet Lou) won the first race at Addington today it was Prebbleton harness racing trainer Michael House’s hit the 800 wins mark.

Driven by Andrew Sharpe the race was the first of two heats in the New Zealand Amateur Drivers Championship, a race House was also participating in.

After some pedestrian early sectionals another House runner Santanna Mach (Mach Three) and driver Alan Edge put some spice into the contest by speeding around from the back at the 700. Edge looked to have the race in the bag but Sweet Spirit which had sat parked, wore down her stablemate to win by a length, making it a House quinella.

SWEET SPIRIT REPLAY

“I work for Ray Green at Lincoln Farms so I am on the track every day. So I still keep in touch. I’m no Blair Orange but it’s just good to be out there,” Sharpe told Nigel Armstrong of Harness Racing Unhinged.

Sweet Spirits trainer had to watch from afar as his drive White Star Orlando was pulled out of the contest.

Michael’s first winner as a trainer was Talk About Swift at Forbury Park in January 1992 and his biggest winners have been Santanna Mach (18), Warloch (16), Superstar Legend (15) and Castleton’s Mission (15).

He’s trained two Group One winners – The Easter Cup with Matthew Lee and the Caduceus Club Fillies Classic with Rona Lorraine.

Blair Orange (272) has been the most successful driver for House from Dexter Dunn (72), Wilson House (70) and Colin De Filippi (50).

Manawatu (267) and Addington (181) among others, have been sweet spots for House.

It’s been a memorable few days. On Friday night he scored his 50^th win as a driver when he reined Lord Mudrick (Sweet Lou) to win the second heat of the Amateur series.

As a driver his biggest wins were with Castleton’s Mission in the NZ Sires’ Stakes Two Year Old Trotting Championship and with Royal Cee Cee in the G2 Southland Oaks.

Later in the programme today Henry Winkler (Rocknroll Hanover) provided Sharpe with his second win and enough points to win the Amateur Drivers Championship.

HENRY WINKLER REPLAY

Trained by Sam Smolenski, Henry Winkler settled back in the running and finished powerfully to beat Foveaux Gambler.

“It’s only my third blatt around this track and to win two of them, I’m pretty stoked. I’m just glad I got the job done.”

The win was the 15^th for Sharpe. His first as a junior was Nacokee for Richard Brosnan in Auckland in April 2005.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink