Nairn gets Addington double

A cold Addington Raceway last night offered up a bit of warmth to Leeston harness racing trainer Paul Nairn when he achieved a trotting double with Forgiveness (Father Patrick) and Tectonic (Majestic Son).

Driven by Bob Butt, Forgiveness won the TK Plastering Trot, beating Aspirational Dream by four lengths.

FORGIVENESS REPLAY

After getting away safety Forgiveness settled in the outside running line before she was taken to the lead with 1500 metres to run. He then got his mare to trot solid even quarters, running the sprint out of the opposition.

“She got a wee bit back and was trotting well so Bob put her in the race. She seems to stay so it worked out well,” Nairn said.

The win was her first in seventeen starts.

He commented, “She was always prone to make mistakes. I’ve learned a wee bit about her since we’ve gone on, I’ve experimented with her, and she seems to be trotting pretty well at the moment. She just needed propping up in behind with a leather wedge because she’s got a pretty low heel behind.”

Forgiveness was bred by Butt’s parents Catherine and David under the Birchwood banner. She is closely related to $2.9 million dollar earner Lyell Creek and good pacers Swan Creek (8), Harnett’s Creek (13) and Cullen’s Creek (9).

In the Continental Event Hire Handicap Trot Tectonic was taken straight to the top by Sarah O’Reilly and she held out a spirited bid by Jimmy Carter to win by a head. It was the gelding’s third win in a row.

TECTONIC REPLAY

“He’s going well and Sarah is doing a great job with him. He’s a tricky wee horse manners wise when you’re getting him away. If he can keep doing it right more than wrong he’s on the right track. His mother was a very good beginner and it reminded me of her, the way he began last night. At this time of year with the smaller fields it’s probably good for a horse like him who’s been a wee bit fractious at the start. Last night was probably the best of his three wins. He did work round that first bend to get the lead.”

It was the four year old’s fifth career win in just fifteen starts. All of his wins have been with O’Reilly on board and last nights win was O’Reilly’s 300th .

It turned out to be a good night for the Butt family with Bob also training and driving Dynasty (Rocknroll Hanover) to a two and three quarter length win in Race Three. The three year old filly was bred and is owned by Bob’s grandparents Robin and Jackie Butt.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink