Another asset for Hopes

If you’d asked Greg or Nina Hope which of the hoard of horses they were taking to Westport was most likely to win the coveted West Coast bonus, Asset Control wouldn’t have been the one at the top of their list.

Yet despite that, Greg Hope admitted to not being surprised that the up-and-coming pacer was crowned the best performed horse over the three days of racing on the Coast circuit after he held on for a narrow victory at Reefton on Saturday in the hands of the Hopes’ son, Ben.

‘‘He’s always been a nice horse,’’ Greg said. ‘‘But his gait has been a major issue in the past with him and it’s taken a bit of work to get him to where he is right now.

‘‘Dave Gaffaney (of Micky Gee fame) jogs a lot of our horses up for us, but he was working for us when this horse was in work last time and he said that he could see the improvement in him.

‘‘Getting him pacing right has been the big reason for the improvement.’’

After running second in the first race on the opening day of the circuit, Asset Control then won at Patterson Park on Thursday before peeling out of the one out one back spot to win on Saturday.

‘‘He’s a really nice staying type; I actually think he could win a couple more races pretty easily.’’

Half an hour prior to Asset Control’s victory, Midfrew Tarpediem – a nine-year-old having his 109th race day start - put his claim on the bonus when he won for the second time on the circuit for Carl Markham and his son Jeremy.

The Western Terror gelding won well on Tuesday before producing a fast-finishing effort for third behind Baileys Knight on Thursday.

Off the speed at Reefton he came home powerfully to cap a memorable week for junior driver, Jeremy, who claimed three wins on the circuit and put Midfrew Tarpediem in front on the bonus leader board before Asset Control’s win.

Saturday’s feature, the Reefton Cup, was an equally as intriguing affair with Baileys Knight and Johnny Eyre unable to be separated.

After winning the race last year, Johnny Eyre had to settle for sharing the prize in the hands of Sam Ottley for Mike Brown while Bailey’s Knight, who led all the way was valiant in his effort for Jack Harrington and Dexter Dunn.

The $2,000 trainers prize was, unsurprisingly, won by Greg and Nina Hope who finished 20 points clear of Harrington and Kevin Townley while Dexter Dunn leapfrogged Ricky May, who went pointless on the final day, to win the drivers’ challenge prize of

$2,000.

May shared second spot with Blair Orange.

● The connections of progressive Southland pacer Steiger have been dealt a cruel blow. The horse had to be euthanised earlier this week after shattering his elbow joint in a paddock accident.

Trainer Lindsay Veint trained Steiger for his brothers Jim and Alistair Veint and Warren Tuckey.

The horse was at the peak of his powers before his untimely demise.

Steiger had progressed through the grades, winning four of his 26 starts, and had stamped himself as a genuine country cups performer this season.

That was evident in his track record-breaking win in the Hunter Family Handicap at Wyndham in November.

Only hours before his accident, Steiger had gone a slashing race for second in the Wairio Cup behind Hopes And Dreams.