I’m Batman

It’s been nearly fifteen years since Ascot Park harness racing trainer Jeremy Douglas won a race at Addington and last night’s win with Always Be Batman (Always B Miki) was one to savour.

Driver John Dunn secured the perfect trip behind pacemaker Treasure Cove and when the passing lane presented Always Be Batman came through nicely to win by one and a half lengths from The Con Artist.

“He just gets the speed wobbles at top speed. Halfway down the straight tonight Johnny had to take hold of him. His speed is up there with the quickest I’ve ever driven. He just needs a bit more strength to go through those gears,” Douglas said.

ALWAYS BE BATMAN REPLAY

The two year old gelding has been given plenty of groundwork by Douglas and he qualified on his home track earlier this month.

Once the Ascot Park trainer knew he had potentially a nice juvenile he hatched a plan to send Always Be Batman north to Robert and Jenna Dunn’s Woodend Beach stable.

“I spoke to Johnny in the winter and told him what I had in mind and he was happy to play his part. Generally we never get two year old races off the ground down here.”

Douglas says Always Be Batman has settled in well to the large Dunn stable and the beach training regime.

“I thought that would be a big eye opener for him, but Johnny said he’s handling it like he’s done it all his life. It’s funny because he goofs around at home when I’m working him and as soon as you take him somewhere else it makes him concentrate harder. He’s gone to a big operation where he’s had to concentrate on what he’s doing and he’s been the better for it.”

The Douglas Dunn relationship goes back to Surfin Swift which Douglas sent to Robert Dunn in 2012.

“They’re now breeding from her and she’s the mother of Gone Surfin (Downbytheseaside). Johnny and Dexter used to do a lot of driving for me when they were juniors.”

Douglas has had a number of the progeny of Always Be Miki through his stable and he says Always Be Batman is different.

“The others have been big rangy types who have taken time to fill out. But this fella is fine boned and got electric high speed.”

Douglas’s partner local vet Megan Reidie owns fifty percent of the gelding and the other half is owned by Paul Wilson and Gary Tippett, both members of the Setarip Syndicate which races Magic Sign out of the Douglas stable.

Megan bred and races winner of nine and New Zealand Cup aspirant Macandrew Aviator.

It’s not the first time Douglas has won a race at Addington. Pacing mare Hannah and trotter Raymauwarrhen Sun won two races each at the metropolitan track.

“It’s nice to have one with a bit of horsepower which makes life a bit more enjoyable.”

Always Be Batman was purchased at the 2023 Christchurch Sales for $14,000 when he was named The Batman.

“We went to the sales hoping to buy one or two. This fella wasn’t on my shopping list. Megan had a horse in the barn who her kids gave the nickname of Batman. When she saw this fella’s name, she made me go and have a look at him. It took me by surprise. I thought the Mikis wouldn’t go early but when I saw him I thought he’d have a pretty good chance of going early. By the time I broke him in I knew he was definitely above average.”

The Diamond Creek Farm Oamaru Juvenile Stakes is in the gelding’s programme in two weeks time.

“He was supposed to have gone to the Diamond Creek then come home for a spell. But I’ve got the feeling in the last couple of days Johnny might want him to stay.”

For complete race results click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink