The Wheels keep turning

Ashburton trained harness racing four year old Wheels Of Fortune (Always B Miki) is a pacer becoming accustomed to winning and in today’s $40,000 Regent Car Court Southern Cups Final at Ascot Park he took out his sixth race at start number eleven.

After beginning well from the ten metre mark trainer driver John Hay progressed forward with designs on the lead, but so did Tommy Waterhouse (American Ideal).

“Kirstin likes to have a crack at the top, you can’t lead all the time, so I decided to trail,” Hay said.

With a lap to run driver Sam Ottley and Got You Covered (Art Major) dished it up to Tommy Waterhouse and the two went stride for stride for the last circuit with Wheels Of Fortune sitting pretty in the trail.

Once the field straightened up Hay elected to come out three wide and Wheels Of Fortune let down nicely to win by a neck from Cya Art (Art Major) who came home strongly for second with a half a length back to a very brave Got You Covered.

WHEELS OF FORTUNE REPLAY

“He’s still got a bit to learn but he tries hard and that’s the main thing.”

It’s the second time Hay has won the Southern Country Cup final, having won it with Jimmy Johnstone (P-Forty Seven) in 2013.

Owned by Peter Cates along with his daughters Jo Lovett and Nicky Copland, Hay is unsure what’s next for Wheels Of Fortune.

“He needs one more start to get into the Country Championship. It means we may have to go to Rangiora next week if he’s to get a start.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink