Oamaru trainer-driver Colin McKay produced an impressive qualifier at the Oamaru trials on Saturday, giving him some much needed good news.
McKay drove the Monkey Bones gelding Gorilla Playboy to a two-length win in the 2500m qualifying trot in a three-horse field. The 3yr-old trotted the 2500m in 3.22.3, almost 10sec under the required time of 3.32.2.
Gorilla Playboy's dam, Illustrious Tricks, has also produced Illustrious Queen, who McKay qualified two weeks ago, but a pastern fracture has put her career on hold indefinitely, he said.
However, Illustrious Tricks also suffered the same injury yet went on to win four races, so McKay is hopeful the 4yr-old Sundon mare will eventually make it to the races. Gorilla Playboy raced as a 2yr-old, starting in a juvenile trot at Addington in April 2012, but was unqualified until Saturday. McKay has nominated the gelding for Forbury Park on Thursday night. He is hoping for more luck than at the start when he was 2, when the overcheck broke in the warm-up and was fixed with insulation tape but broke again in the score-up, causing Gorilla Playboy to go off stride.
Alexandra Leaving, a daughter of seven-win Gee Whiz II mare Cabaletta, finished second in the hands of Matthew Williamson for his father, Phil. The Gary Shand-trained Roaming, who finished third, is the sixth foal to qualify out of the Gee Whiz II mare Gypsy Del, who has left Del's Hoof N It (7 wins), Annihilator (3 wins) and three other race winners.
Free Dreams, a recent arrival to Phil Williamson's Oamaru stables, got up to beat his stablemate Pyramid Monarch in the feature trot. The 4yr-old Dream Vacation gelding won two of his seven starts for Trevor Wilson, who has retained part-ownership in the trotter. Free Dreams trotted the 2600m in 3.34.7.
Carabella wins trial
Former harness horse of the year Carabella won her first trial back from injury at Rangiora yesterday. The Bettor's Delight mare suffered an injury to her near front ligament in February 2012 and has not been sighted away from her base of Dancingonmoonlite Farm near Rangiora since. She sat parked for the last lap to beat open-class trotter Escapee by a head over a closing last 800m of 55.7.
