Pats Dragon leads Coast bonus

A number of intriguing little battles await on the annual West Coast circuit for the final of three days’ racing at Reefton on Saturday.

The race is on for the popular West Coast bonus, awarded to the best performed horse over the three days of racing on the circuit, with points allocated for placings from first to fourth.

The impressive Pats Dragon is the only horse to have won on both days of the meeting at Westport.

The promising Greg and Nina Hope-trained runner cleared maidens impressively on Tuesday but made his second day assignment look even easier as he went up in grade.

The four-year-old son of Ohoka Arizona won by four-anda-half lengths in the hands of Ricky May, who also won earlier in the day with stablemate Asset Control, giving Pats Dragon 10 points.

The other big winners in the race for $5,000 are Asset Control, Clarendon Falcon and Pay Me The Change who sit next with eight points courtesy of also running second on the first day.

Close behind them is grass track toff Johnny Eyre, who made the most of a bad break by My Wee Man in the feature event on Thursday to capitalise on a great run in transit and win for Mike Brown and Samantha Ottley.

He is joined on seven points by Midfrew Tarpediem, who ran third in the race won by Baileys Knight.

On six points, contenders include dual runners up, Scallywag Sam, Old Oak Ellie and Augusta, along with Baileys Knight who was very impressive for young trainer Jack Harrington.

Driven confidently by Dexter Dunn, the four-year-old worked to the lead and won comfortably capping a decent day for Dunn after he won with Pay Me The Change.

Despite a double, Dunn still sits in second, three points behind Ricky May’s 30 points in the drivers’ competition, which carries a $2,500 prize with Jimmy Curtin in third on 24 points.

The same prize is up for grabs in the trainers’ division and it’s no surprise that Greg and Nina Hope lead the charge in that race with an impressive 33 points.

They are 18 clear of Kevin Townley with Jimmy Curtin, Carl Markham and Harrington next on 13 points.