By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
There’s no more topically-named racehorse in the country right now than Lyndon Bond’s stable star – Crusher Collins.
Named by her breeders, well-known Mid Canterbury identities Bevan and Keith Grice, the now six-year-old mare has won five from 70, with nineteen seconds and six thirds, and total earnings of more than $60,000.
“She’s been a cashflow machine for us,” says Bond, who trains alongside his wife Aimee in Mataura in Southland. Both work at the local freezing works, juggling their jobs with working a team of nine.
And he can see parallels between his trotter and the new National leader, Judith “Crusher” Collins.
“She (Crusher Collins) was running second all the time there for a while and now she’s come of age.”
But the horse has her quirks.
“She’s a cranky old girl… and she certainly knows when it’s tucker time.”
The mare has been stood down from standing starts, after missing away of late.
“She’s cantankerous – the last time she dug her feet in and went sideways.”
Bond is aiming to get her back behind the mobile at Addington soon.
Her last win was as a $29 outsider at Invercargill in March but with three victories this season Bonds says Crusher Collins is in line to win Southland trotter of the year.
It appears both the horse and the politician are contesting popularity contests in 2020.