Lightning Faulks at Oamaru

Of the three horses Burnham trainer Andrew Faulks took south today for the Oamaru Harness Racing Club’s meeting, two won.

Bred by Andrew, four year old trotting mare Lucinda Hest (Dream Vacation) won her first race at start thirty two.

“I bought her mother (Nordic Sun) off Ray Hansen for two dollars, and I got Colin and Shirley Campbell into the horse because she’s a half-sister to Leighton Hest which Colin raced. He was by Dream Vacation, and I thought I’d bred a champion out of the mare but it didn’t turn out that way. It’s taken her thirty odd starts to get a win,” Faulks said.

Leighton Hest (Dream Vacation) won the G3 Four Year Old Trotters Championship and the  G1 Four Year Old Ruby and ten other races.

Along with Faulks and the Campbells, Grant and Karen Campbell also share ownership in Lucinda Hest.

“She qualified as a two year old and showed a bit of promise at home but it’s taken a while to get her head around it.”

Beginning well from the outside of the front line, Lucinda Hest led all the way for driver Blair Orange.

LUCINDA HEST REPLAY

Later in the programme the omen bet Winnyzback, (Franco Ledger) won his third race in six starts for Faulks.

The three year old had solid form going into today’s race but hadn’t raced since the Kurow meeting in August.

Driver Blair Orange settled Winnyzback last after drawing wide and with just over a lap to run he took him forward. With 1000 metres to run he got to the top.

Dance With The Boss (Bettor’s Delight) who’d followed Winnyzback was left parked, and these two were left to fight out the finish. Dance With The Boss got in front halfway down the straight but he put in a fancy step and Winnyzback came back to win by a head.

WINNYZBACK REPLAY

“Blair said he’s still a bit dumb, was hanging on the bends and wanted to get his head round and run in. He only does what he has to. I was hoping he’d go well but it was his first run back from a spell, he drew wide and was up in grade. He just likes to win I think.”

The gelding is raced by Faulks and The Wobbly Wheel Syndicate, members coming from Central Otago, Waikouaiti and Dunedin.

“The owners don’t want to sell so we’ll just keep him. It’s a new syndicate and a lot of them are new fellas. They’ve got a few other ones and until they’re racing you might as well keep this fella going. No point in racing a slow one when you can race a good one.”

Faulks said he’s hoping to start Winnyzback on Cup Day.

“Everyone aspires to racing a horse on Cup Day. I’m still meeting some of the syndicate and they’re a pretty social bunch.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink