The Dunedin-based Ambie’s Army Syndicate honoured the late Jonny Keen soon after he lost his battle with cancer through the win of Aveross Spitfire at Oamaru yesterday.
Driver Jonny Cox wore a black armband in memory of syndicate member Keen, who died in Dunedin earlier this month after a short and sudden illness.
Aveross Spitfire defied his previous winless streak of 59 starts and powered away for an emphatic maiden win in race 5.
Manager Aaron Johnston was sure Keen, who was a member of the syndicate alongside his fiancee Kirstin Burt, was willing the pacer on from above.
“It was very special. I think he was getting driven home by Jonny [Keen],” Johnston said.
The Ambie’s Army syndicate is largely made up of members of the Forbury Park harness racing fraternity, but it has members stretched across the South Island.
With owners allowed on course under the country’s Level 2 Covid-19 restrictions, many of the group were on course to enjoy yesterday’s emotional victory.
Johnston credited trainer Amber Hoffman for helping Aveross Spitfire break his winless streak.
“The syndicate has stuck by Amber. He is actually not a bad horse, even though it has taken him 60 starts to win one.
“He has been a bit erratic, but he has settled down now.
“Amber has done a magnificent job and she has been patient.”
Cox took charge of race 5, shooting Aveross Spitfire around to the lead in the middle stages before the pacer powered away for his stylish win.
“It was a beautiful drive from Jonny,” Johnston said.
The Ambie’s Army syndicate also enjoyed a second placing in To Ri Caitlin, who went down by just a neck to outsider Betstar Blue Jeans.
Cox enjoyed a brilliant day in the sulky, producing a winning treble.
The Canterbury reinsman drove Mickey Fitz to a tough victory in race 3.
After sitting parked, the Jamie Campbell-trained pacer fought off all challengers to continue his excellent form on grass tracks.
Cox also took out the Waikouaiti Cup after handing She’s Tough a perfect run in the trail.
The Brad Mowbray-trained mare came with a late run to down American Lightning by a head at the finish.
The win gave She’s Tough back-to-back cup race wins following her last-start victory in the Hororata Cup.
The Waikouaiti Trotters’ Cup was won by The Player, trained by Robert Dunn and driven by John Dunn.
- Two Otago lads showed off their talent to an Australasian audience with major group 1 wins in Australia on Saturday night.
Former Dunedin driver Jack Trainor starred on a huge night of racing at Menangle with group 1 victories in both the New South Wales Oaks and the Ladyship Mile.
Trainor produced a cool drive when timing his run to perfection with New Zealand mare Stylish Memphis in the Ladyship Mile.
The Mark Jones-trained 4yr-old charged down the outer to win the mile feature in the sensational time of 1.49.
Brad Williamson produced a pinpoint drive, negotiating a passage from the second row through to the lead to set up Majestic Man’s group 1 win in the Australian Trotters Grand Prix.
The Phil Williamson-trained trotter is raced by the Griffins Syndicate, whose members have confirmed the trotter could now be the centre of a sale to North American interests.
If the deal is finalised it would see Majestic Man become the highest priced gelding in either harness racing gait sold out of New Zealand in recent history.
