Racing: Winner by a country mile

Valmagne, driven by Maurice McKendry, stretches out nicely to win race five at Waikouaiti...
Valmagne, driven by Maurice McKendry, stretches out nicely to win race five at Waikouaiti yesterday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
When Valmagne is good, he is very good.

And luckily for Waimate trainer Josh Kennett, the good version was on display at Waikouaiti yesterday.

The start is a major factor for most trotters but even more so for the Sundon gelding, who is hard to catch when he gets in front.

Valmagne's debut win was at Forbury Park in December, when he bolted away from his rivals by 14 lengths, and his winning margin yesterday on a difficult and slow grass surface was 11 lengths.

Kennett said a move to putting the horse on the unruly had helped at Ascot Park on March 11, and might have helped with the 6yr-old's mental issues.

''It's just been a mental part with him really, trying to get him right,'' Kennett said.

''Breaking has been mucking him up - even when he leaves about 20m [behind his rivals], you think that's not too bad, but it must be enough to upset him a bit.

''We always knew he can do that sort of thing - it's just a case of going away and trotting all the way.''

Valmagne provided Maurice McKendry with one of his two wins during the youth versus experience invited drivers series, and Kennett was more than happy when McKendry was drawn to drive his horse.

''They're all good drivers, but Maurice has 3000 wins to his name.''

Karanga Red Fantasy stretched her unbeaten run to three when she took care of a c1 field over 2600m in the hands of junior driver Craig Ferguson.

Greg Manson helps out West Melton trainer Bob Forrester and has done much of the work with the 4yr-old mare, who debuted with wins at Wesport and Reefton earlier this month.

''She's pretty much trained for the last six months on the racetrack at Hororata, so the grass is an easy option to kick off with.''

A paucity of juvenile trotting options forced Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson's hand to start at Waikouaiti yesterday, but he was not complaining after 2yr-old trotter Springbank Eden held on to win the c0 trot.

''They canned the race the other day and it looks like they're going to can the one next weekend, so there's nothing for the 2yr-olds to go round in,'' he said.

''I thought he'd be competitive against the maidens. He's got a bit of upside to him. He's just been racing against some very good ones. Monbet and others are going to open class.''

The only concern for Williamson before the race was how the son of Angus Hall would handle the soft track.

''If it had been firm, I would have been very confident - but it was more of a slog.

''The sales series has been his big goal for the season, and we'll try and attack that for everything we've got.''

Heavy overnight rain forced stipendiary stewards to adopt rolling starts, controlled by clerk of the course Graeme Mee, for the three mobile races on the card.

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