By Mike Love
Ashburton trainer John Morrison trained a double at yesterday’s Methven meeting, bringing up his 50th training success in the process.
In Race 1, the Methven Resort and Opuke Hot Pools Trot Lottie’s Moment was far too strong. Driven by Morrison the four-year-old Majestic Son mare began well from their unruly mark to settle midfield. Peeling at the top of the straight, Morrison let the mare down, showing a strong turn of foot to burst away and win by three lengths from runner up Macho Man.
“She can still be a bit headstrong at times which is why I put her on the unruly,” Morrison said.
“Once she learns how to be a racehorse she’ll be alright. She has a bit of speed.”
Lottie’s Moment is raced by “half of Ashburton” but her win was particularly special as she was bred and trained by the late Katie Cox.
“Katie (Cox) made the horse. She trained and drove it as a two-year-old placing three times from three starts. It shows how good of a horsewoman she was.”
Bringing up win 50 for Morrison was Destiny’s Dream in Race 6, the Advanced Joinery LTD (Invited Drivers) Mobile Pace with Maurice McKendry MNZM in the sulky.
Sliding forward from their outside barrier, McKendry and Destiny’s Dream were able to get a soft lead which they held to the line, holding off challenges to win by a neck.
“She’s a nice horse. Ben Waldron did all the work with her early. She worked well on Monday so I thought she wouldn’t be far away,” said Morrison of her win.
Morrison’s first training win was No Fears at Addington in December 2018.
Other highlights on the programme included a back to form win by Here’s Herbie for co-trainer/driver Colin DeFilippi in The Brown Pub Methven Mount Hutt TC Cup. It was the Sportswriter gelding’s eighth career victory, and first since December 2023.
Driver Samantha Ottley also recorded a hat trick of wins in the sulky (Newbiemains Arden, Louis and Aveross Majesty) but that was not enough to win the Roseland Racing Drivers Challenge which was won by Team Legends (Ricky May, Maurice McKendry and Tony Herlihy).
