Trotting Oaks to Walkinonsunshine

“She loves being on the front end and she has the gait speed to put herself in the right spot and has a really good motor to keep trucking on at the finish,” harness racing trainer Tom Bagrie said after Walkinonsunshine (Creatine) won the Southern Trotting Oaks at Ascot Park today (Oct. 6).

Driver Blair Orange and Walkinonsunshine ventured forward early from the outside gate but so did the horses inside of her and she was caught three wide. After briefly sitting parked Orange took the lead from favourite Aroha Kenny (Love You). He kept Walkinonsunshine rolling and she went down the line with her headgear still on, beating Aroha Kenny by a length and a half.

Bagrie said he was happy to head south and race in the Dancinginthedark M sponsored Oaks where his filly was racing against her own age group and sex.

“Racing the boys is a lot harder. Even though she has raced them (colts and geldings) it takes it’s toll because they do go faster. I know this race is only a few years old but us guys just love it.”

Walkinonsunshine is raced by Reg and Bella Storer and Bagrie and she’s out of the Falcon Seelster mare Blackjacky which was trained by Tom’s father Peter to win seven races.

“Reg has been a supporter of Dad and now me, and it’s absolutely great to have someone who has stuck by us over the years. He’s now won two Oaks by breeding a pacing mare to a trotting stallion so he’s a genius. Reg is a good mate and he’s in Thailand at the moment so he’ll be partying hard.”

WALKINONSUNSHINE REPLAY

Bagrie said Walkinonsunshine, who won the Northern Trotting Oaks in Auckland in May, will now target the Hambletonian at Ashburton.

“We’ll leave Cup Week alone and have a wee freshener and come back for the New Zealand Trotting Oaks in December.”

He says he expects Walkinonsunshine to be even better next season.

“She’s a big raw boned filly and physically she’s got a lot of maturing to do but I think she’s going to get better with time for sure.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink