Team Teal drives the Forbury card

There were only four harness races on the dual code card at Wingatui today and female drivers wearing Team Teal colours won them all. A great way to finish the fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer and cap off the Southern Harness portion of the appeal.

Don’t Look Kobe (Majestic Son) got things off to a perfect start when he won the Dunedin City Ford Handicap Trot for Oamaru trainer Brad Williamson and Team Teal Driver Ambassador Kerryn Tomlinson.

The three year old gelding broke briefly at the start before settling handy and in the long Wingatui straight he was too good for a game Spiritinthesky. He won by half a length.

DON’T LOOK KOBE REPLAY

“My heart was in my mouth for those first few strides, but he regathered himself and won quite well. I was hoping to get a win for the team (owners) today so I can give him a spell. I’m sure he’ll improve because he’s got a big frame to fill out,” Williamson said.

Don’t Look Kobe is out of The Pres mare Don’t Look Back which won five for Doug Gillespie, twice with Brad in the cart. Don’t Look Back’s fourth dam Cordsworth left No Response, the winner of twenty four races including an Interdominion Trotting Final, the Rowe Cup and two New Zealand Trotting Championships.

Itsallaboutthemoney (Vincent) capped off some consistent form by winning the Brett Reid Electrical Mobile Pace for trainer Lyndon Bond and junior driver Georgia Goodman.

The four year old mare ran second to the smart Utah Jazz at her last start at Ascot Park and had performed well prior to that.

In today’s race Goodman took Itsallaboutthemoney to the front and held off all challengers to win by three quarters of a length.

ITSALLABOUTTHEMONEY REPLAY

The win was the second for Goodman after winning on Secret Agent Man at the end of January.

The Team Teal colours were also to the fore when Mia Holbrough got Normie Stead (Bettor’s Delight) home in the Taieri Excavating Mobile Pace.

With Lorton Vale setting a hectic pace, Holbrough settled her charge three back on the inside and got a nice run up the straight to beat stablemate Gliding High by three quarters of a length.

NORMIE STEAD REPLAY

The Team Teal day was capped off when Bismarck Du Plessis (Always B Miki) won the last race for Gore trainer Tony Stratford and driver Kirstin Green.

The win was expected after the gelding put in a huge run at the Northern Southland meeting last week, finishing fourth.

“I think that run last week was phenomenal to be fair. It was probably his career best run. He was four wide from the 800 and wasn’t far from the winner at the end. We were coming here today with a fair bit of confidence,” Stratford said.

After sitting parked for most of the trip the four year old was too tough for his rivals, winning by three and a quarter lengths.

BISMARCK DU PLESSIS REPLAY

“That’s his go but he has got good speed too. He’s a staying type and he proved that today. We purposely came up here because he enjoys the grass, the race was suitable and he got the job done which was good.”

The four year old gelding is owned by Dean Lawrence who now resides in Cromwell.

“He’s a guy I went to school with and is a couple of years older than me. He’s a South Otago guy who was brought up on a farm at Clydevale. He was never into horses, but he’s got a few round him now.’

Lawrence also races four start maiden Lydah Valley (Sweet Lou).

“She’s always shown a heap of ability but has been a wee bit weak.”

The Team Teal campaign started on the 1st February and the final amount raised for the appeal should be known within the next few days.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink