By Jonny Turner
Matt Purvis found the right races for Will He Rock and Jennabella to notch a winning double at Oamaru yesterday.
Will He Rock impressed in his first start for Purvis when powering to a four-length victory in race 3.
The consistent Jennabella then claimed a winning double for Purvis and driver John Dunn by taking out race 8.
Those victories made the long trip from Woodend well worth it for Purvis who ventured south to find confidence boosting races for his duo.
“It is a good starting point for these horses”
“Jennabella had been going good races and she got into a small field which really suited her.”
Will He Rock showed ability at various stages for former trainer and part owner Jordan Simpson.
Purvis credited his farrier Paul Howlett for playing a big part in the horse being able to show his true worth again yesterday.
“Everyone at that the stables said if he didn’t win by three-lengths we hadn’t done our job.”
“He showed a lot of ability when Jordy had him.”
“He ran 2.26 (for 2000m) and won by half the length of the straight early on.”
“But he has had a lot of health issues and issues with his feet.”
“Paul Howlett has done an amazing jog getting his feet right.”
Another young Canterbury horseman made his travel to Oamaru worthwhile with a winning double yesterday.
But he came from the opposite direction.
Ben Hope has been staying in Invercargill recently as he prepares Mossdale Ben and Mossdale Terry for Saturday’s Northern Southland meeting.
Hope scored wins with McCrikey and Krystal Delight for his parents Greg and Nina Hope, before heading south again to finish off the preparations for Saturday’s meeting.
McCrikey faded late in his last outing at Oamaru but was strong to line line when winning race 9.
“He had to do a bit of work in his last start but he got an economical trip today and that helped,” Hope said
“He is a nice horse, he is quite fast, he has got a 26sec quarter (400m) in him but he is still quite green.”
Krystal Delight powered home to win race 6 by the barest of margins.
“She is a consistent mare, she is owned by a great lady – Adeline Smith.”
“She loves watching her horses race each week and she would have got a great thrill out of that.”
“She races Homebush Lad with us too, so we have had a bit of success together.”
Hope was to reunite with star trotter Muscle Mountain this week but his race at Addington on Friday night was scrapped.
That means more time in Southland for the junior driver who is clearly thriving in his southern surrounds.
