Memorable hat-trick for Barclay
Kirstin Barclay trained three winners in a day for the first time on Saturday.
Three of her four starters won at the Winton harness meeting, while the other finished eighth.
Barclay’s roan mare, My Rona Gold, returned to the winner’s circle after a 13-month absence when taking out the Plumbing World Pace. The pacer last week had three days work in ‘Tank’ Ellis’ team at Oreti Beach.
She went back to his stable for another short stay after racing on Saturday.
‘‘We think she was stale and needed to freshen up mentally,’’ Barclay said.
Magical Marn’s success in the Waterware Pace could have marked his last start for Barclay. Negotiations to sell him to Australia are underway.
If he is not sold, the Shadow Play 3-year-old will race at either Wyndham on Saturday or Ascot Park a week later.
Barclay has a good opinion of the 3-year-old Shadow Play gelding, whose record stands at a win, a second and a third from five starts.
Stablemate Grace Burns chalked up her second win in 12 days when taking out the Mico Wakefield Plumbing Supplies Pace.
Grace Burns, who had a week of beach training with Ellis recently, won at Waikouaiti on February 14. Her next start will be at Wyndham.
Andrew Suddaby drove Grace Burns and My Rona Gold. He also reined Pegasus Merrily to victory in the Rheem For Hot Water Claimers Pace for Tapanui trainer Matt Saunders.
It was the third time Suddaby had driven three winners in a day, the previous occasion being 15 years ago.
Gotta Del was far too good for his rivals with a five and threequarter-length win in the day’s main race, the C3-5 Masterlink For Apprenticeships Pace.
The Clark Barron-trained gelding led all-the-way to clock 2:58.2 (2400m mobile), his closing 800m in 56.9 and 400m in 27.9.
Gotta Del was one of two winners for Oamaru driver Matthew Williamson. He drove Zoey’s Gift to win in a good time of 3:03.5 (2400m mobile) in the Peter Cocks For Dairy Cylinders Mobile Trot
Southland’s next harness meeting features the Group III $25,000 Kindergarten Stakes, $14,000 Wyndham Cup and $12,000 Stella Frost Stakes at Wyndham on Saturday.