Treacherous Gall gets hometown win

Classy harness racing filly Treacherous Gall (Captaintreacherous) relished the role of pacemaker yesterday. It paid off and she won the Canada Stakes Three Year Old Mobile Pace at Ascot Park.

Driver Craig Ferguson had designs on the lead right from the start and despite drawing the outside of the front row he put the handlebars down and sped past early leader and favourite Amore Infida driven by Mark Purdon.

“You can’t leave Mark alone in front. We couldn’t have gone back and then sat parked. The choices were go to the top early or go back and have no show. I thought going to the front was the only option. Today we seized the opportunity and she went super,” Ferguson said.

Once in front Treacherous Gall rolled along and Ferguson was confident she’d win.

“I gave her a bit of a whistle turning in and you felt her change gear and wanting to go. At the 400 they weren’t going to beat us.”

The winning margin was one and a quarter lengths with Amore Infida finishing second. The 1700 metres was cut out in 2-01.1 which beat Raksdeal previous track and Southland record of 2-01.4.

Owned by Dave Kennedy and Cleland Murdoch and trained by Regan Todd, Treacherous Gall has now won six of her eight starts in her home province and Ferguson has won five races driving the filly.

“We have a pretty good association now. I’ve driven her a few times and worked her a bit for Regan, so I know her pretty well.”

Her winnings now stand at $129,172 from eight wins and four minor placings, in just nineteen starts.

“On her day she’s a lovely horse. She’s fast and has a bit of toughness.”

Kennedy will be offering a half-brother to Treacherous Gall by Downbytheseaside at February’s NZB Standardbred Sale in Christchurch.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink