Plenty of milestones at Ascot Park today

Junior harness racing driver Ollie Kite has turned a corner, well demonstrated by his two winning drives at Ascot Park today (Sep. 15).

“It was the first time I’ve had a double on race day, and it was kind of cool to get it back to back,” he said after winning with Steve (Repeat Love) for Brian Norman and a race later with Mr Cash Man (Shadow Play) for his boss Nathan Williamson.

Kite had cover at various points in the 2200 metre trot with Steve but as the lead changed a number of times he was left parked for a good portion of the race.

STEVE REPLAY

He piled the pressure on to Miss Jessica (Master Glide) inside the last 800 metres, going on to beat a late charging Johns Boy (Simon Roydon) by half a length.

“I didn’t want to sit parked in that wind, but I got left there. She travelled well down the back and stuck to her game. It was great to do it in Brian’s colours. Really special.”

The win was Norman’s 200^th as a trainer. His first was trotter Darling Dora (Country Road) at Wyndham in March 1985. The mare paid $35.45 and $9.50.

“I was going to be a jockey but in the last three months of high school I started to grow a bit and put on weight. I thought I either give up eating or go to trotting. I thought, trotting’s better” Norman said.

He says the best horse he’s trained was Easton Alliance (Village Jasper).

“I qualified her as a two year old and sent her up to Mark Purdon’s and he won four races with her. They sold her to America and she became the fastest Australasian race mare for a number of years. She went 1-49 and was the second highest earner in America that year.”

Norman also sold Happy Asset (Transport Chip) to Tim Butt and has also sold lots of horses to Australia. Recently he’s formed a good working relationship with big Australian buyers Merv and Meg Butterworth.

“A lot of the early ones were by Son Of Afella and Washington VC and that kept me going. Merv’s great. There are no complications there. He rings me up and says ‘I’m having that one’ and the money is in the bank in the morning (laughter).”

Kite’s second win came a race later in the R40-R55 Special Handicap Pace for Junior Drivers. There were a number of lead changes and he sat back before taking the initiative, shooting round Mr Cash Man to wrestle the lead from Tartan Raider (Bettor’s Delight).

“Coming here today I thought I had four good each way chances. So with Mr Cash Man being one of my better chances I’d have a crack.”

The winning margin was half a head from outside Hazer (Auckland Reactor).

It was the five year old’s fourth win in nineteen starts for the Central Courage Syndicate and the drive impressed Williamson.

“They weren’t going much in front so he took the bull by the horns and it worked out for him. It was a small field and they’re always tricky races. Since he got Durrant (Art Major) and in the last three or four months his driving has really turned a corner. Hidden Talent’s (Bacardi Lindy) owners backing Ollie to drive her, has given him confidence too,” he said.   

Later in the programme Oamaru junior driver Kerryn Tomlinson on Classic Mission (Vincent) reached her first milestone of 100 winners.

Tomlinson positioned the three year old nicely in the one one and let him loose once the field straightened for the run home.

Trained by Brad Williamson, the gelding continues the success of the All Things Harness Racing Syndicate. It was his second win in fifteen starts.

Of the 100 winners Tomlinson has driven, 21 have been for her current employer Brad Williamson and 14 for her grandfather Ken Ford. She’s also had good support from Brad Mowbray (7), Phil Williamson (5), Ross and Chris Wilson (4) and, Matty Williamson (4).

Her first winner was Zsa Zara (Brylin Boyz) at Nelson on 13^th of January 2019 for her grandfather.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink