By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
It was a day of firsts at Manawatu yesterday.
In what was the latest of many successful trips north for the Canterbury-based father-son training-driving combo of Michael and Wilson House they combined for three wins with Boyz Invasion, Ask Me Lazarus and Bonney Eloise.
It was Wilson’s first ever driving treble.
“I’ve had a few doubles but never three before so that was nice, it was a great night.”
Ask Me Lazarus also became the first progeny of the great Lazarus to win on New Zealand soil. It was her first win from four starts.
“She’s got lovely high speed,” says House.
In race 3 the Post Office Hotel Pahiatua Mobile Pace House secured the one-one with the two-year-old filly and then peeled out turning for home, going on to win by nearly a length.
House’s first win of the night came with hot favourite Boyz Invasion in race 2, the Masterton Club Handicap Trot. The Brylin Boyz nine-year-old stepped well, led and cleared out by three lengths from a game Highview Rockn Roll to register his 12th win in 109 starts.
And in race 6 the Pete’s Joinery and Building Greytown Mobile pace Bonney Eloise started off the unruly, was launched mid race by House and then held on by more than a length.
“She’s a funny horse and has ability but she was a five-year-old maiden.”
“Another of our good horses Superstar Legend is her three quarter sibling.”
While Bonney Eloise (A Rocknroll Dance – Badlands Legend) had her first win in six starts Superstar Legend (Rock N Roll Heaven – Badland’s Legend) has won 13 from 114 starts.
While he didn’t win the last of the night House was also impressed by the grit shown by Full Of Desire who was parked and then led the Connie Stewart Sotheby’s International Realty Mobile Pace, only to be pipped by favourite Mr President.
Full Of Desire, and first night winners Bonney Eloise and Boyz Invasion will all be in action tomorrow night though Ask Me Lazarus will not.
“She’s just a two-year-old so we’ve decided against backing her up.”
The House stable currently has 51 wins in 2023 and is fourth overall behind Robert and Jenna Dunn (101), Mark and Nathan Purdon (73) and Mark Jones (55), with Wilson on 23 driving wins for the year. That puts him in eighth place overall in the junior ranks, with Sarah O’Reilly a runaway leader on 69.
Thursday’s eight race meeting at Palmerston North starts at 5.06pm.
