Photo: Angelique Bridson
By Brigette Solomon, HRNZ
Only recently back from a stint in Australia, Josh Dickie reined a double at Cambridge Raceway yesterday.
Both winners were trained by Dickie’s new employers, Steve and Amanda Telfer, the first being Slots in Race 3.
The three-year-old colt by Sweet Lou was too good for his rivals powering away to win by a margin of three and a quarter lengths. From his starting draw of seven, Dickie allowed the gelding to work around to the lead and from there he never looked like being beaten. A hot favourite it was Slot's first win in five starts, after earlier showing up at the trials.
“He's a nice horse, he’s very relaxed in running and happy to wait until you ask him to go,” says Dickie, “he gives you a lovely feel and he will head toward the three-year-old Harness Millions race in February.”
Dickie’s second winner was Kashkeeper who also started as favourite in Race 5, the gavelhouse.com Mobile Pace. Kashkeeper faced the breeze in the one wide line with around 1400 metres left to travel and was pushed by the fast-finishing God Dam to win by just a half head. It was the three-year-old gelding’s first win at just his third start.
“He won well, he doesn’t quite know what he’s doing yet and should improve with racing,” says Dickie, “he stuck it out and fought on well to beat the second placed runner which I was pleased with.”
The Tony Herlihy-trained Throwyaarmsaroundme was an impressive winner in Race 8, the Clubhouse Sports Bar Mobile Pace. Driven by junior Alicia Harrison, it was the gelding’s third win and it came in a scorching time of 2:39.5.
Harrison initially settled Throwyaarmsaroundme back in running while Acushla Machree went forward to lead. With around 1200 metres left, Harrison set off to sit parked and applied the pressure running the last 800 metres in 56.9 seconds. The gelding had the better of third-placed Acushla Machree with 100 metres to go but was kept honest by Hampton who ran home strongly for second.
Racing action returns to Cambridge Raceway next week on Thursday 11th January with the Group 3 Cambridge Flying Stakes Free-For-All Mobile Trot.
