Port Delight suited well by grass track

CHRISTCHURCH: Pukekohe trainer Clare McGowan has made the long trek down to Tauherenikau with two of her stable runners for the track’s annual dual code meeting today.

The wellrespected equine physiotherapist has been rushed off her feet of late, and cotrainer and husband David McGowan said she was well overdue for a trip away.

“Clare is flat out all the time with her physio work,” he said.

“She is out of the door first thing in the morning and isn’t back until 8pm.

The trip was instigated by Port Delight’s coowner Simon Holmes, who wanted to line up his pride and joy in the Wellington Cup Mobile Pace (2000m).

“Simon, the owner, loves that horse to bits and he wanted her to start in the Wellington Cup,” McGowan said.

The 8yrold mare has been in consistent form, placing in three of her past five starts, and winning two starts back.

The daughter of Bettor’s Delight finished eighth at Cambridge Raceway on Christmas Eve, but McGowan said she was not given any favours with her outside barrier.

“She didn’t back up that well last start.

‘‘They went really quick off the front and you can’t make ground,” McGowan said.

While slightly disappointed with her laststart result, McGowan said he was pleased with the way she was going prior to that run.

“She has been going really well,” he said.

“She tries really hard and is very genuine. She is a wee honey to work with.

‘‘She is not the most talented horse in the world, but she has won eight races, so she has done well.”

Port Delight has drawn two for the Wellington Cup and McGowan said the grass track would ideally suit the mare, who has won three of her five starts on the surface, and placed in another.

“We are pleased with drawing two, She has got nice gate speed and she loves the grass, so hopefully we can lead,” McGowan said.

“She doesn’t like anything going past her when she is in front.”

Port Delight was joined on the eighthour float trip south by stablemate Gypsy, who will be looking to find some form in the Larnoch Poll Dorset Mobile Pace over 2000m.

“Gypsy has had no luck,” McGowan said.

“She is not the most talented either, but even though she had a really hard run last start she still went OK. She is out there doing the work and hadn’t had a run for six weeks.

“We will see what she does on the grass.

“It will be nice to see her in the trail, or threeback, just to see what we have got. We don’t know at the moment because we haven’t had any racing luck.

“We will find out and then they can go to Otaki.”

While the McGowans have a small racing team, that is likely to change in the near future, with McGowan excited about several young trotters in his care.

“We have got about 18 trotters in work,” he said.

“I am really excited about these Love You’s, Sebastian K’s, and Orlando Vici’s.

“We have got a lot of really nice trotters coming up. They are all 2 and 3yrolds who are about to hit their straps.” — Harness News Desk

❛We are pleased with drawing two, she has got nice gate speed and she loves the grass, so hopefully we can lead