Son Of The Cleaner sweeps the floor

Son Of The Cleaner (Love You) was on his best behaviour today (Aug. 24) at the Gore Harness Racing Clubs meeting at Wyndham.

Trained for the early part of his career by former Southlander Tony Barron, Son Of The Cleaner was sent south to Tony Stratford’s for a change of scenery and easier opposition. At his last start he led and looked a likely winner before he went out of gait. Thanks to a gear change he was more stable and trotted all the way today.

“Tony’s probably tried everything. Pacifiers have worked for us in the past. Nathan thought he was going to win the other day until he flicked into a pace, which is a new one. So we banged on the pacifiers and he worked good during the week and it worked today,” Stratford said.

Son Of The Cleaner led for most of the trip and held on to win by one and three quarters of a length from first starter and favourite Black Pat (What The Hill).

SON OF THE CLEANER REPLAY

The five year old is out of Habibti Sadie (Pegasus Spur). His ownership group all remembered ‘Sadie The Cleaning Lady,’ John Farnham’s hit from the 60s. Being by Love You, the name was a fit.

Williamson gave Son Of The Cleaner a good hit out prior to his race today and it helped settle the gelding.

“He’s a big horse that can roll along a bit and I think that’s his go. He’ll certainly handle the next grade just because they go a bit harder. Nathan said he had a hell of a job to pull him up after the line so he could have gone another lap. There’s potential there for him to go on.”

Stratford said the four owners of the trotter have been loyal clients for a while now.

“John Duff and Kevin Fairbairn had Flying Diamonds (Falcon Seelster). He was a good wee horse (7 wins), and Stan Morton and John Gillespie had a share in Cruisin Reuben (Panspacificflight) which won three.

Meanwhile the win today by Mightyflyin Supastar trained by Canterbury trainer Regan Todd extended the wonderful record of his dam Fleet’s Pocket (In The Pocket).

She’s left seventeen foals of racing age and thirteen have now won races.

Her foals all bred by Lex and the late Heather Williams, have collectively won a remarkable one hundred and thirty two races for over $1.7 million dollars in stakes.

Her biggest winners have been Flying Pocketlands (Badlands Hanover) the winner of twenty one races and $442,423, Mighty Flying Thomas (Falcon Seelster) twenty four wins and $352,622, Mighty Flying Deal (American Ideal) twenty one wins and $241,070 and Mighty Flying Art (Art Major) eighteen wins and $212,400.

Her eleventh foal Mighty Flying Rocker (Rocknroll Hanover) has won three races pacing, and one as a trotter.

Her last two foals of racing age are Lumen Caeli (Bettor’s Delight) who’s won four and Mightyflyin Supastar (Art Major) who won today.

The mare’s last two foals are Mighty Flying Lou (Sweet Lou) who’s two and is with Ashburton trainer Laurence Hanrahan, and a weanling colt that Williams really likes called Mighty Flyin Miki (Always B Miki).

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink