By Michael Guerin
People kept telling George Breckon he should do something to get young people involved in harness racing.
So he did. And at Alexandra Park on Friday night it paid a very noisy dividend.
Breckon is one of those Breckons, the oldest son of Ken and Karen of Breckon Farms fame so he has been around horses since before he was allowed to bet.
The 26-year-old was constantly being told he should “get your mates involved” and having always been a go getter he was keen, he just didn’t know how.
“I want to buy a horse and syndicate it among some mates but I had never bought one before,” says Breckon.
“So Phil and Glenys Kennard said they would help so they choose a horse, bought him and told me I could syndicate as much as I want.”
The Kennards stayed in for a third while George syndicated the $50,000 Karaka yearling between 24 of his young mates and a couple of Dads (long story, lets not get into that part).
Named Double Parked he left maidens at start three on Friday night in the Lather Up Tender Closes Tonight Mobile Pace. He sat parked for trainer-driver Tony Herlihy before holding out a good filly in Tytate.
Pacing a 1:59.6 mile rate for the 2200m, his last 800m in 56.1 seconds Double Parked looks a five race winner in waiting at least, which means the people running the Alexandra Park Winner’s Circle Bar might need to stock up.
Because 15 of the pacer’s young owners were there with 15 more mates on Friday night and they went, in George’s words, “Off, it was crazy and everybody got into it.”
For I think 23 of the 27 people in our syndicate it is there first horse and they are loving it.
“The celebrations were posted on the Boys Get Paid social pages and our guys loved.
“And it looks like he is not finished winning so we are stoked.”
At the other of the racing experience spectrum comes Maria Perriton, owner-trainer-driver of Dolly P, who finally left maidens at start 60 in the race immediately after Double Parked.
The little mare who turns up in most Alexandra Park maiden races will have to find a new grade to haunt after cracking her first win as a rising eight-year-old, matching her dam Rocket, who won once in 21 starts.
It was Perriton’s first training win since 2017 and while it couldn’t have been more different from the Young Wons Syndicate who own Double Parked, it was satisfying to watch all the same and commentator Aaron White captured the moment with appropriate drama.
Later in the night a genuinely good trotter in Dream Of You made it back into the winner’s circle when he overcame a 25m handicap to win the main trot over 2200m for trainer-driver Derek Balle.
His case was aided by favourite Pantani galloping, but is was still good to see a lovely horse back in form and if he stays sound Dream Of You is a Rowe Cup contender.
