by Brigette Solomon
New Plymouth trainer Brodie Ellis was thrilled to train his first winner today at Otaki when Cool Phelan took out the Kapiti Coast Harness Racing Club Trotting Cup.
“It’s been a long time coming after running a lot of placings along the way” said Ellis, “This girl has given us some good thrills already and it was pretty awesome to get my first win in a cup race, it definitely made the drive home tonight a pretty good one.”
Driven by Dylan Ferguson, Cool Phelan started the 2200 metre race off the front line and stepped quickly off the mark to find the lead with The Gardner’s Pride and Quercus Rubra trailing. Ferguson set a solid pace out in front with the remaining runners and back markers not tacking on to the front runners until entering the home straight. While Cool Phelan was on tired legs over the final 100 metres, she had done enough to hold on and win by a 3.3 length margin ahead of Quercus Rubra and Highview Rockn Roll who were solid in defeat.
“I was expecting a good run from her going on her recent form and we knew we’d be starting off the front line when we entered this race, so I was confident she’d be thereabouts” said Ellis “She’s been getting more confident in her standing starts too and was great today which really helped put her in a good spot.”
“She’s owned mostly by family and friends and it’s really great to have them involved and get a cup win for them.”
Ellis first became involved in harness racing through his uncle Keith Chittenden who was a local Taranaki trainer, and he fondly remembers spending weekends at the stables as a youngster. He later was involved in getting the Taranaki Kidz Kartz up and running despite only being able to compete for a couple of years before aging out of the pony races. After his uncle passed away in 2017, Ellis was eager to remain involved in harness racing and first took out his trainer’s licence in 2020. Prior to today’s win, he had managed thirteen placings from the handful of horses he has trained.
“I can remember going with Nana to Uncle Keith’s stables every weekend so I grew up helping him out and since then I’ve always loved it” said Ellis “Now days I still help out at Kidz Kartz when I can, but between training and caring for the horses plus running my car detailing business there’s not too many hours left in the day.”
“I have four unqualified horses at home, either spelling or youngsters, so it’s been really nice to have Cool Phelan to race and be competitive while we wait for a few others to get to the track.”
Meanwhile, the Grant Plumbing Ltd Wellington Cup Mobile Pace was won by the Michael House trained Gotta Elect Bill who was driven by junior driver Harrison Orange.
From the extreme outside of the barrier, Orange was unwilling to settle back in the field and pressed forward with Gotta Elect Bill to sit outside the leader Lord Delmar. Orange applied pressure to the leader from the 600 metre mark, and upon entering the home straight Lord Delmar was travelling the stronger of the two and drew ahead by half a length. In the battle up the straight Gotta Elect Bill dug deep to draw level with the leader who was running out slightly requiring correcting, and it was enough for the House trained runner to get ahead and win in a photo finish.
The House and Orange combination were also successful earlier in the day with Tasi Ahnau scoring his maiden victory in the Railway Hotel Otaki Mobile Pace. The pair are developing a good association having combined for six winners since the start of the year.
Grass track racing continues at Otaki on Tuesday.