By Mike Love
Crystal Hackett will be looking to continue her good form in the cart on day two of the Hawera meeting on Sunday after driving three winners on the first day.
Hackett’s winners on day one were Aradne, Herb, and Kourtney Kardash – with the latter being the only of the trio she will reunite with in Race 6, the Revital Fertilisers Taranaki Cup Mobile Pace.
The five-year-old Bettor’s Delight mare, trained by Shane Butcher, has hit a purple patch of form – looking for four wins on the bounce.
“She has a bit of a niggly draw, but we are following one out with gate speed. It doesn’t really matter where she sits, she can get cover or do some work if we need to,” said Hackett.
“You can’t beat a nice mare in form and hopefully she can make it four on the grass.”
Hackett experienced all sides of driving on day one when being tipped out of the sulky in a racing incident on Jahi. The four-year-old Art Major gelding, trained by Stephen Doody, lines up in Race 8, the Hygain Revell Douglas Memorial Series Heat 3.
“Well he shouldn’t be too tired! We will look to take cover so he doesn’t jump anything. He’s been going really well and finally has a nice draw.”
Jahi jumped a patch of dirt on the track and galloped and when coming back through the field locked wheels with another runner resulting in Hackett being tipped from the cart. In a display of brilliant skill, Hackett held tight to the reins and was dragged some 100 metres but managed to pull up Jahi and return him safely back to the stables with both unharmed in the incident.
Hackett also rates maiden trotter Aldebaran What in Race 1, the Auto Shoppe Hawera Handicap Trot for trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett.
“He went massive the first day. He has got a big motor. He’s here on an experience trip to get some ringcraft.”
“If he does things right he will have a good chance.”
Hackett’s other drives are :
Race 2 – Moonlight (Andrew Stuart)
Race 4 – Jetasi (Stephen Doody)
Race 7 – Rough And Ready (Arna Donnelly)
Race 9 – High Energy (Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan)
Race 1 gets underway at 11:55am.
The feature is Race 7, the $20,000 DTS Hawera Cup at 3:10pm where the Benjamin Butcher-trained Barbarossa again lines up after upsetting at huge odds ($58) in the Taranaki Steelformers Stratford Cup Handicap Pace on Friday. He’s currently at $16, with Boudica the favourite at $4.60.