By Jonny Turner
Hard work paid off for the Bond family at Ascot Park on Thursday when Tweedledee burst along the passing lane for a deserved victory.
The Lyndon Bond trained trotter came in to race 5 after putting up solid performances from second row draws in his prior two starts.
A smart beginning, combined with driver Samantha Ottley weaving a perfect path, put an end to Tweedledee needing to do any extra work in his races.
The Canterbury reinswoman secured the 4yr-old a perfect run in the trail that set up his second career win.
“He has just had no luck – this is the first time he has had a decent draw in a while,” Bond said.
“We have had to use him up and I think he is a speed horse.”
“He got the run today and he deserved a win.”
Tweedledee is not the only one that has had to work hard leading in to yesterday’s race.
Bond has juggled a busy season at his day job at the Mataura freezing works with preparing his team of horses.
He put Tweedledee’s success down to his whole family, including wife Aimee, pitching in.
“It is a real team effort, Aimee and my boy have been helping out.”
“Aimee has been doing all of the feeds and all of the jog teams.”
Bond’s father, the former trainer and driver, Jimmy, races Tweedledee, a son of Superfast Stuart.
He sourced the trotter’s dam, Tyron’s Doctor, from Mike Heenan, who stands his sire at stud.
“Jimmy had a yarn to Mike Heenan and said what are you doing with that mare, we ended up getting her and putting her in foal to Superfast Stuart.”
“We hadn’t done anything with her for a couple of years, but with this fellow looking alright we put her back in foal to him this year.”
Tweedledee’s win completed a winning double for Ottley, who took out race 6 with Wecandream for trainer Brent White.
Aggressive tactics set up an exciting finish and another well-deserved win in yesterday’s feature pace, race 7.
Amore Lancome came in to the 2200m event after running top five placing in every run for trainers Kirstin Barclay and Tank Ellis since joining their stable in January.
The 5yr-old daughter of former top filly, Lancome, grabbed a well-earned second win for the trainers with a late run along the inner.
“She is just so genuine, she tries her heart out,” Barclay said.
“It wouldn’t matter what race you put her in, she is always so consistent.”
The Barclay-Ellis team completed a winning double when Chuckles held on for a tough victory in race 8.
The 4yr-old showed toughness to cling to his lead in the straight after working hard throughout.
Chuckle had let his backers down when failing after starting among the favourites in his prior two starts.
Barclay put the 4yr-old’s turn around in fortunes down to him being able to settle in front.
“He is a very hard horse to drive.”
“He can get keen and when the pace eases he pulls back and it can affect his wind.”
“Today when I got to the front I was able to throw the reins at him and he relaxed.”
Chuckles is a half-brother, by Grinfromeartoear, to Barclay and Ellis breakout 3yr-old, Love On The Rocks.
