A somersaulting trotter helped add to the tally of Otago wins on Invercargill Cup day on Saturday.
Westwood beach horsemen Rory McIlwrick and Graeme Anderson notched winning doubles, while Oamaru's Phil and Matthew Williamson both scored one win.
McIlwrick started the count when turning around the fortunes of his previous start with winner Golden Gate. Gore trainer John Ryan watched on as the pair crashed spectacularly at Omakau in early January.
‘‘She actually somersaulted when she fell. She ended up upside down with her feet in the air, and was facing the wrong way. The cart was absolutely munted. I just got it back.''
The tumble left the mare battered and McIlwrick suspended from driving.
‘‘She was very sore for a few days but we just took it slowly,'' Ryan said.
McIlwrick reined home his second winner two races later with the Anderson-trained Motu Moonbeam.
Anderson scored his second win when Dexter Dunn steered Sovereign Banner to victory. The 4yr-old took his career record to three wins and a second placing from four starts, and has impressed his trainer in doing so.
‘‘He's related to a lot of very good horses like Mach Banner. There is no reason why he can't be as good as them.''
The Williamsons dominated the feature handicap trot. Winner Monty Python and driver Matthew Williamson held out Springbank Eden and Brad Williamson to make up a Phil Williamson-trained quinella. Grey Power, trained and driven by Nathan Williamson, completed the trifecta.
Monty Python's winning time of 3.26.3 set an open 2700m standing start track record for trotters.
The Pegasus Spur 6yr-old has impressed Matthew Williamson.
‘‘He's just getting better and better this season. Even next season he could improve again.''
The 2700m standing start track record for 3yr-old pacing fillies was also broken on Saturday, when Highland Girl scored her maiden victory.
● Only Lennytheshark prevented a New Zealand sweep of feature harness races at two Australian venues on Saturday night.
Monbet was brilliant in the Australasian Trotting Championship at Melton, sitting parked for the last lap to win easily, just 90 minutes after Lazarus did a similar job in the Victoria Derby.
Smolda ended up in the trail behind Interdominion champion Lennytheshark in the Victoria Cup, but could not claw back the margin in the home straight.
Have Faith In Me strolled past Cruz Bromac in the last 200m to win the group 2 Paleface Adios at Menangle.
By Jonny Turner.
