McGowan double at Cambridge

Pukekohe harness racing trainers Dave and Clare McGowan have been experiencing a bit of a flat patch lately, so winning two races last night at Cambridge is a good pick me up for the pair. 

“You know how you go through those stages and then you have nights like that. They’re all doing things right, but you just need luck,” Dave said. 

Taylad To Use (Used To Me) was their first success, winning the Garrards Horse and Hounds Trot. In the hands of Andre Poutama the four year old raced parked for the last lap and just held on to win by a half a head. 

“He sometimes tries too hard and forgets to take his back end with him, so we’re trying to get him to come back (to the driver). The mind takes over and the legs forget to go with the mind. You’ll see he gets loose because he’s trying too hard to beat them. It’s just a time thing.” 

Taylad To Use was bred by and is raced by Carol Baker and Wayne Portland.  

“They live in Auckland and run a distribution warehouse. They’ve been wonderful and are good friends. It’s lovely to win races for friends. The horse is no champion, but he trots and tries hard so he’ll win races by purely doing that.” 

TAYLAD TO USE REPLAY

Taylad To Use is out of the Sundon mare Taylamade Dee who won six races for John Dickie. It’s been a great family over many years with Kipper Dee (Penrod Eden) 15 wins and Thriller Dee (Crockett) 24 wins, also on the pedigree page.  

The night finished on a high when Wish For Fish (Love You) which was bred by and is owned by Clare, won by a neck for reinsman Todd McFarlane. 

He’s named after the Wish 4 Fish Trust who helps people with physical disabilities or mental unwellness, to get out on the water and enjoy the freedom and pleasure of ocean waters. 

The charity was established in 2011 by Bryce Dinneen. While socialising with friends in 2007, Bryce suffered a high-level spinal injury through a shallow water diving accident, severely damaging his spinal cord. 

“Wish For Fish is out of Inkyroe (Skyvalley).  She had a breathing problem so we retired her. When her first foal was born, we rang Bryce and asked if we could name her Wish For Fish to help promote the charity. He was so excited and he follows her wherever she goes. We give his charity half the winning stakes.” 

WISH FOR FISH REPLAY

Inkyroe is also the dam of the McGowan’s promising trotter Olegro (Orlando Vici). 

“He’s very raw but very very talented. He’ll race in November and December at Addington. I was going to take him and another promising three year old Castana, (Quaker Jet) to the Brisbane carnival but decided to put them both in the paddock. It was hard, because you always want to show off your really nice horses, but it was time for a break. Those two are very good horses and that’s exciting.” 

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink