The Goose takes another feature

Harness racing gelding Dalton Shard (Always B Miki) in the hands of Robbie Close, made it back to back open grade wins when he took out the $40,000 Group Three Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup at Addington tonight.

“He’s just an honest wee horse that’s got better and better,” Close who carries the nick name ‘Goose’, told FNL viewers.

DALTON SHARD REPLAY

Who’s Delight led with driver Gavin Smith ensuring the pace was solid while Close settled Dalton Shard back on the inside where he likes to be.

“Three fence is a great place to be but he’s got good standing start manners and can probably do a bit of work in these big races but while he’s still on his way up three fence is ideal.”

Charlie Brown got a run late and powered home for second, making it a Robert and Jenna Dunn quinella with Macandrew Aviator running another good race for third.

“I thought he (Charlie Brown) was going to get me but my fella hit the front and knocked off.”

The winning margin was a quickly diminishing half a neck with another half a neck back to third.

The run of the race was from Ohoka Connor who broke and lost a huge stretch of ground at the start then stormed home to get within a length and a half from the winner.

Dalton Shard’s winning time of 3-14.1 was well outside Classie Brigade’s 2020 race record of 3-11.7.

The Dunn stable has now won four New Brighton Cups with the stable’s other winners being Franco Nelson in 2016, Letspendanitetogetha in 2018 and Classie Brigade in 2020.

Four horses that have won the New Brighton Cup have gone on to win the New Zealand Cup: Van Dieman (1951), Humphrey (1968), Lunar Chance (1975) and Iraklis (1997).

Dalton Shard, having won the Maurice Holmes Vase is already guaranteed a start in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink