By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Stratford trainer Jason Cossey is proud to be the third generation in his family to train in his green and red silks, and he is hoping they can return to the winner’s enclosure at Manawatu Raceway on Tuesday.
The Taranaki dairy farmer will take Dramatist and Zip Code south on Tuesday and he is hopeful they can go one better at the Palmerston North track after both mares finished runner-up in their respective races last week.
Cossey was pleased with Dramatist’s last start performance and he said she benefited from a light freshen-up after a series of unplaced runs.
“She was quite impressive, we were really rapt with her,” he said. “She has been training really well and we were hoping for a better run.
“She has just come off the unruly and we have started having workouts back at Hawera in the last month or so, and I think that has helped her a lot.
“After Kapiti (last month) we gave her a bit of time off and that has helped her out.”
The daughter of Big Jim has drawn gate two in the Outback Trading Company Mobile Pace (2000m) and Cossey said driver Brendan Towers may have his hands full with the boisterous mare.
“I am a bit worried because she is a bit of a puller,” Cossey said. “If she gets out in front she might over-race a bit. We are hoping to get some early cover.”
Later on the card Zip Code has drawn one on the second line in the Hughes Joinery Mobile Pace (2000m).
“She is another one who enjoyed her freshen-up and she is loving the workouts at Hawera,” Cossey said.
“I am just hoping she gets a bit of luck and can get out and have a decent run at them.”
Cossey is pleased the Palmerston North meeting has received strong support from trainers from around the country, and he is hoping more meetings can be programmed for the region in the racing calendar.
“It’s awesome, but it would be good if we can get some more grass tracks back up and going. We are really missing them around here,” he said.
The Cosseys are one of the longest established racing families in the region, and he is proud to continue that legacy and become the third generation in his family to train.
“My Dad (Spencer Cossey) got his license when he was 17, back in the 1960’s,” Cossey said.
“I have been interested in racing right from the start. My set of colours were Dad’s, and they were his father’s as well. They have been in the Cossey name for a long time.”