Faulks is not a regular in the sulky, preferring to step aside and give Dexter Dunn and Blair Orange first choice on his stable’s runners.
With the two star drivers committed to rival runners, Faulks went to owners Ross and Averil Pettit and asked them who to call on next to drive Aveross Rustler in race 7.
The Dunedin owners told Faulks he should pack his driving gear from his trip to Forbury Park, and that decision paid off.
Faulks landed a perfect one-one sit on Aveross Rustler before he launched a big finish to win the second heat of the Forbury Park sprint series. The win was the horse’s third over 1200m on the track and has Faulks firmly eyeing the series final on June 29.
"He has got a bit of gas over those sprint trips."
"He can’t get in another heat so we will wait for the final. He is better with his races spaced, anyway."
It was a chance taken 20 years ago, rather than a gentle push, that lead to Playboy’s Brother winning race 9, last night’s feature trot.
Oamaru breeder-owner-trainer Colin McKay leased Illustrious Tricks as a 2yr-old pacing filly and soon decided to try the horse as a trotter.
"She was bred to pace and by Cam’s Trickster. I actually got her out of Ricky May’s stable," McKay said.
Illustrious Tricks went on to win four races as a squaregaiter, an effort that her son, Playboy’s Brother, surpassed with an all-the-way win for driver Brad Williamson.
All the trotter’s five wins have come at Forbury Park and three have come this season as he has shown career-best form.
"He is surprising me every start," McKay said.
Williamson made it back-to-back wins in the sulky when Six Diamonds scored at 24-1 odds for trainer Alister Black in race 10.
Six Diamonds held out runner-up Franco Saxon, denying trainer-driver Jonny Cox his 500th win in the sulky.
Cox got to 499 career driving wins after winning race 3 last night on Mighty Empire and heads to Addington tonight with five chances to achieve the milestone of 500.
- Jonny Turner
