‘Badger’ wins cup in Nelson

A late bid by Billy Badger down the home straight earned him a narrow win in the feature race on day two of the Nelson Harness Racing Club’s winter meeting at Richmond Park on Sunday.

Lying third behind Mongolian Hero and race favourite Alpha Rock heading into the final turn in the Nelson Winter Cup handicap pace, driver John Dunn got a handy outside run to eventually coax the three-year-old colt past the two front runners to eventually win by a nose.

The Blair Orange-driven Mongolian Hero finished third a length ahead of Alpha Rock, driven by Dexter Dunn.

It was the second win of the meeting for the Robert Dunn-owned Billy Badger, out of Art Major and Lady Antebellum, following Friday’s win in the Mobile Pace over 2400m.

But he stood up to Sunday’s longer 3000m Winter Cup well to eventually stop the clock at 3min 45.9sec.

Alpha Rock had been hoping to back up Friday’s impressive win in the Winter Cup Prelude when the Rock N Roll Heaven gelding from race mare Sparks A Flyin paced the 2400m in 3min 3.4sec.

And although clearly well in the hunt to take out the meeting’s big prize, the wily Dunn had other ideas as he eventually steered Billy Badger to his fifth win in 20 starts this season.

Billy Badger’s win took his career win earnings to $38,325 in total career stakes of $70,678.

Dexter Dunn had been hoping for a personal milestone after entering day two on 198 wins. But he could only manage one winning drive after guiding three-year-old filly Jakira to victory in race seven, the Mobile Pace over 2400m.