Weaver weaves his Manawatu magic

Brent Weaver had no right even winning one race let alone going ‘two-from-two’ at yesterday’s (Tuesday) meeting at Manawatu Raceway.

Rough seas on Cook Strait last weekend meant Brent Weaver and his trio of pacers only arrived at Manawatu Raceway on the morning of the races.

Letting Go, Extra Guinness, and Trixie Bromac finally settled into Palmerston North just after 7am. Then about nine and 11 hours later the first two were both victorious, while Trixie Bromac will have her first start at the two-day meeting tomorrow (Thursday).

“It was great to have them both win after we arrived late. The three of them travelled real well and settled in no problem at all. They seemed to take it all in their stride again.

“In saying that I reckon it’s easier on them travelling from Blenheim to Palmerston North than what it is from Blenheim to Christchurch – and that’s even before the main road was damaged,” Weaver said.

“I couldn’t be happier with today’s two races. I’d like to go three-from-three on Thursday, and I think I can too – providing I get some nice draws,” he added.

The 51-year-old was the most successful trainer at the Manawatu Harness Racing Club’s meeting yesterday.

Five of his eight wins this season have been at ‘The Raceway, including three by Extra Guinness on the track on February 12 and November 22.

Extra Guinness was impressive in yesterday’s $6,000 Wairarapa Harness mobile for the R57 to R78 pacers. The Extreme Three gelding and Weaver started from the outside of the front-line, but that didn’t stop them from getting up by one-and-a-quarter lengths and paying $9.60 to win.

Weaver worked Extra Guinness early and they led after 400m. The Waterlea reinsman then dictated a lovely pace out in front to win easily.

It was the 4-year-old’s fifth win in 38 starts and the brown gelding paced the 2000m mobile in 2:35.6 (mile rate 2:05.2) and came home in 60.1 and 29.7.

“I always thought he would have a good 4-year-old season and that’s now his third win so far this year. He’s going real well at the moment and will now probably cop a 10 metre handicap on Thursday.

“I think I’ll line him up in the Wairarapa Cup and then we will head home before coming back again with probably all five of my race horses at the next Manawatu meeting later in the month (May 23 and 25),” Weaver said.

Unlike Extra Guinness, who was the five-five in the betting (of seven), Letting Go was the $3.20 favourite in the $6,000 Speight's Ale House mobile for the up to R48 pacers.

“She drew well at two and I thought Sailesh (Abernethy) might have used that to get the front early, but Sailesh always has a “B’ plan, he’s a good driver.

“I like to use him because I can get a bit busy on race-day. It’s hard to pay attention to detail; when you have to go on and off the track driving,” Weaver said.

Abernethy situated Letting Go in the one-one before ‘letting her go’ at the 450m. The 6-year-old Grinfromeartoear mare then held on in the straight to keep second favourite and Wynberg Sally (Philip Butcher) by half a neck.

Letting Go paced the 2500m mobile in 3:13.8 (mile rate 2:04.6) with final 800m and 400m sectionals of 62.6 and 29.7. It was her third career win in 32 starts.

In 2013 Weaver made a career-defining decision to relocate from Amberley to Blenheim.

“It was tough chasing Mark Purdon, Cran Dalgety, and the Dunns around in Canterbury. We opted to shift to Marlborough to be more competitive, and I'm glad we did,” Weaver said.

He has now trained 97 winners ($44,282) from 1,558 starters since 2004. He has also driven 49 winners from 1,197 starters since 2003.

Duane Ranger