Popular victory for first Jewels winners
THE team that produced New Zealand’s first Harness Jewels win snared a popular victory on the eve of this year’s event when veteran Aveross Rustler won at Forbury Park last night.
Trainer Andrew Faulks and owners Ross and Averil Pettitt scored their 10th win with the rugged veteran in race 7.
The same combination produced GTH Aveross to win the first Harness Jewels race at Ashburton in 2007.
Aveross Rustler has not quite hit the same heights that she did, but has quietly plied his trade in a sixyear racing career.
The 9yrold won with a bold frontrunning performance that defied his age, for driver Dexter Dunn.
Nine years ago, the Pettitts did not have high hopes that the horse would make it to the track, let alone get his win tally to double figures.
As a foal, he was struck down with a serious salmonella infection that had the Pettitts almost ready to write his career off.
‘‘He had salmonella as a baby. We nearly put him down,’’ Ross Pettitt said.
‘‘We had pretty much given up on him.’’
But the horse recovered and was taken along quietly by Faulks until he was ready to hit the track.
‘‘Andy said we will just play around with him. He didn’t start until he was a late 4yrold because of that, and he has been going for five years and has won every year,’’ he said.
GTH Aveross has produced eight foals since being retired, with three winners from five starters.
This season she had a filly foal by A Rocknroll Dance, but was not put back in foal.
Part of this year’s Southern jewels contingent warmed up with a winning double. Trainer Brent Gray and driver Brett Gray produced Dianna Lorena to win race 6 and Elva Jaccka to win race 10.
They will combine with 2yrold trotter Full Noise and 4yr old trotter Smokey Mac at Cambridge tomorrow.
Barclay will also drive the Ken and Tony Barrontrained Royal Bengal in the 4yrold male pacers’ final.
Otago’s hopes of a Harness Jewels win sit with driver Brad Williamson, who took out last night’s feature pace.
The Syd Breentrained Sagwitch gained a deserved win with a strong frontrunning performance for the reinsman in race 9.
Williamson is hoping his Harness Jewels drive, Majestic Man, can also find the front in tomorrow’s race.
Despite the Phil Williamsontrained trotter’s blazing gate speed, it seems unlikely he will cross the favourite, Winterfell, who has barrier 1, from his 7 draw.
‘‘I probably could have crossed him in the Northern Derby, but we were side by side then. From 7 at Cambridge and Winterfell in 1 it will be almost impossible.
‘‘We just have to hope we can get to park outside him and see what happens from there.’’
Phil Williamson produced Maddison Jane to win last night’s feature trot for driver Charlotte Purvis.