Amid the growing hype leading into Southland’s first group 1 race, The Power Broker took his turn in the spotlight when clinching a thoroughly deserved and long-awaited win in his 116th start yesterday.
While many of his rivals struggled to hold their composure, the 8yr-old went steadily about his work, eventually powering away to score his first racetrack victory in style with a five-length margin for trainer Paul Andrews and driver Kerryn Tomlinson.
Andrews has been with The Power Broker through the final leg of his 116-start journey after the horse was tried in several stables.
Although he had every right to be chuffed with himself as both winning owner and trainer of the veteran trotter, Andrews’ thoughts were with the horse himself.
"I am pleased for the horse - proud of him."
Andrews describes The Power Broker as a gentleman and he put the horse’s victory down to the trotter finally getting his day in the sun.
"He is a gentleman when it comes to handling him and all that sort of stuff - he is nice to handle.
"I got him off Adrian Wohlers and he had a couple of starts and pretty much from there I have been all in.
"He seems to handle it well - he loves the racing, so we will keep him going."
Many of New Zealand’s best drivers had tried to secure a deserved win for The Power Broker.
Ultimately, Tomlinson showed them all how it was done.
"He has been going some good races, but he has been in behind them.
"Today he had the trail, so he got a great trip. He trotted really nice. He came around that last bend on the bit and I thought ‘I’m a good chance here’. Once he got clear, he just kept kicking."
Tomlinson notched a double at Ascot Park yesterday when also scoring in race 4 with Night Watch.
The Brad Williamson-trained trotter was last seen powering home from the rear at Wingatui.
This time it was Night Watch making her rivals chase her as she powered to a front-running victory.
"She went a great race in front, where she seems to love," Tomlinson said.
"She was actually really unlucky at Wingatui. She ran home well late and a couple of strides past the post she was in front.
"I knew she was going to go a really good race today."
Tomlinson drives at Addington tomorrow night before reuniting with The Power Broker at Saturday’s historic group 1 meeting at Ascot Park.
