Wayward trotter makes amends
CHRISTCHURCH: Highland Star’s victory at Rangiora ended a wild, fiveday ride for trainer Ron Paterson.
The rejuvenated trotter sped to victory after doing the same at Geraldine on Saturday, before being disqualified.
Paterson and his coowners, Dave and Gaye Luke, had Highland Star’s Geraldine win taken from them in the inquiry room under the lappedon rule after their trotter galloped across the line.
Though he was not in a hurry to go through that experience again, Paterson said Highland Star’s disqualification had a silver lining.
‘‘As it turned out, getting put out at Geraldine was actually a good thing because we ended up with a big stake at Rangiora.’’
Highland Star’s redeeming victory was further proof that the horse has been in careerbest form this season.
His frontrunning win on Amberley Cup day was his second in seven starts since returning from a suspensory ligament injury.
Paterson said the time the 8yrold spent away from racing had been the making of the horse.
‘‘He did a back suspensory in February or March last year and we put him out for about seven months in a big grass paddock.
‘‘He came back in looking like a bull and the break has been good for him.
‘‘His leg is excellent; it hasn’t been a problem.’’
Robert and John Dunn had a good day at the meeting, winning three races, including the day’s feature.
Classy pacer Alta Maestro took out the $20,000 Amberley Cup, taking his career record to eight wins and more than $170,000 in stakes.
One race later, Valloria made it three trotting wins on end with a dominant victory for the fatherandson combination.
Earlier, 3yrold filly Garta resumed with a win in race 5 after hunting to the lead from the outside gate.
Queenslandbased sire Mr Feelgood recorded his first New Zealand winner when Alston Roze sat parked and won for Gerard O’Reilly in race 2. — NZ Harness News