By Michael Guerin
New Zealand harness racing’s newly-crowned owner of the year Dean Shannon liked what he saw at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
In fact, Shannon has been liking lots of things he has seen in New Zealand harness racing over the last six months.
Shannon is these days best known as the boss of Entain Australia, which runs the TAB, but way before that he was Mr Montana, a consistently successful owner and big investor in bloodstock here.
He got to enjoy that thrill again with his latest good horse when Greased Lightnin made it three wins on end in the opener at Alexandra Park on Friday night, looking like a horse who could give Shannon at least a shot at a third straight Northern Derby.
The Queenslander has won the last two with Merlin and Cold Chisel and while they were both more advanced as two-year-olds than Greased Lightnin, he is catching up quick now he has turned three.
The son of Vincent, purchased by Shannon at the NZB Standardbred Weanling Sale, came off stablemate Invisible’s back to beat him, rating 1:53.5 for the 1700m.
That is a serious time for an early season three-year-old and while the very big shadow of Marketplace hangs over the Derby market and entire three-year-old crop Shannon is set to have some fun with his latest musically-named star.
The win came less than a week after Shannon’s pride and joy Merlin was named NZ Pacer of the Year at the national awards and Shannon himself won Owner of the Year.
Even for the now most powerful man in New Zealand racing that was a humbling experience.
“I didn’t expect to win and I couldn’t wait to tell my wife,” says Shannon.
“I remember when I first started following the trots and punting and I was in awe of how good the New Zealand horses were.
“To own some of those horses now and to win that award, it was very special.”
Shannon’s belief in New Zealand harness racing is being rewarded by some of those other things he has liked seeing this summer.
“I think New Zealand harness racing would be one of the few jurisdictions in the world experiencing growth,” he offers.
“We have good leadership at Harness Racing New Zealand with Brad Steele and some important changes have been made.
“The two-year-old bonus system is already working and getting horses into circulation earlier but also getting owners returns quicker so that has been very encouraging.
“And we see initiatives like Next Gen kicking into gear with the sales this week so it really is a positive time for harness racing.
“And it isn’t finished yet, we still have other things we can roll out.”
Shannon says that positivity spilled over to the Karaka sales ground on Friday where he joined other potential buyers doing inspections.
“The vendors were all telling us they has been consistently busy so that is a really good sign.”
So is the new Owner of the Year, who estimates he has around 14 horses in New Zealand, most of which he owns outright, keen to go again?
“I will be trying,” he says of Saturday’s first day of the NZB Standardbred sale.
“I have seen some lovely colts but I am sure some other people will be on them as well.
“And I have seen a yearling or two I want to buy to use for the Next Gen scheme. So we will see how we go.”
Greased Lighnin’s older half-sister also won at Alexandra Park on Friday night with Ultimate Racy Girl super impressive after sitting parked for in-form junior driver Harrison Orange.
One of the other stars of the night was Matthew White, who trained two winners with Lord Popinjay and Spirit Of Waiheke while he also drove In The Summertime to win for trainer Tate Hopkins.