Nairn has three in DG Jones

Master harness racing trainer Paul Nairn already has runs on the board for Sunday’s $40,000 Group Three DG Jones/Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup.

He’s won the race with Call Me Now (1994), Call You Later (2002 and 2003), Habibti Ivy (2017) and Habibti Inta (2019).

“It’s a special race. I remember when I worked for Bill Doyle when I was a kid, it was always a race he targeted with the good trotters he had,” Nairn said.

Doyle won the inaugural Banks Peninsula Cup in 1965 with his good mare When. He was also successful with Going in 1971 and About Now in 1979 and 1981. In 1979 About Now beat a good field that included Pointer Hanover, Waipounamu, Scotch Tar and Hano Direct.

This year Nairn takes a strong group of three trotters to ‘The Mot’ for Sunday’s feature.

Five year old gelding El Conqueror (Sebastian K) is the most experienced grass track racer having won four of his seven races on the turf. He comes into the G3 feature fresh after last racing in May.

“Happy enough with his work at home. I think he may need a run of two to get back to his best. He does like the grass and you’ve got to start somewhere.”

Masterly (Love You) has a good strike rate on grass, starting eleven times for four wins. He was a gallant second in a lower grade race at Addington last week.

“He went well there and he’ll appreciate the grass.”

At his last start Nairn took Confessional (Father Patrick) to the lead with a lap to run and was run down by Mighty Logan who had a soft trip.

“The other one was just too good for us. He’s fit and ready and I’m pretty happy with him. I think he’s a good chance without any bad luck.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink