By Brigette Solomon
Trainer Michael House and Harrison Orange combined to score a winning double at the North Island’s first race meeting of the New Year at Tauherenikau yesterday.
“I rung Harrison three weeks ago to see if we could organise for him to come down and drive at these central districts grass track meetings and I’m really pleased for him that it’s paid off and he’s driven a couple of winners for us,” said House.
“He’s grown up watching his Dad (Blair Orange) drive a few hundred winners in these colours and now he’s driven his first double in them which is great.”
The pair’s first win for the day was with Son Of Patrick who took out the Hilton Delegat Painting & Decorating Handicap Trot with a somewhat unconventional victory.
The Father Patrick gelding was safely away from his 50 metre starting handicap and Orange allowed the gelding time to tack onto the field, moving to sit one out and three back from around the 1200 metre mark. Having to come four wide on the home turn, Son Of Patrick took some time to wind up down the home straight and it looked as though he would run into the placings with King Of Diamonds a run away leader. Just 50 metres shy of the line, King Of Diamonds shied at the winning post, breaking and veering outwards hampering both Cool Phelan and Cosmic Angel while out wide on the track Son Of Patrick had clear running to cross the line second. He was subsequently promoted to first as King Of Diamonds had gone past the post in a gallop.
“It was a funny old race but Son Of Patrick got some luck which is what he needs,” said House, “he’s a lovely old horse and we’ve spent some time getting him really sound and happy and now he’s dropped down the grades a bit I’m hoping he’ll become a Central Districts pro as there’s a bit of racing here over the next few months.”
“I’m really happy to support Harrison and it’s strategic to put him on the team at these meetings with today being penalty free for Son Of Patrick and any other wins being half rating points.”
Megyn Kelly then scored her maiden victory in the Osborne Group Chartered Accountants Mobile Pace giving House and Orange consecutive race wins for the day.
The Shadow Play mare started from barrier 10 and Orange allowed her to settle near the tail of the field before the steady tempo prompted him to head off three wide down the back straight to end up parked with around 800 metres to run.
The lightly raced mare was somewhat green when she hit the front on rounding the home turn, but when Tres Bonne Fille loomed up alongside her she regained confidence and the pair put a solid distance on the rest of the field with Megyn Kelly doing it better on the line to win by half a length over Tres Bonne Fille with remaining runners 7.5 lengths off the pair.
“Megyn Kelly arrived just a couple of weeks ago from Colin Harrison who bred and trained the mare at Timaru prior to her joining us,” said House, “she’s quite a big mare who just lacks a bit of ringcraft yet and is still green but we’re getting her fitter and she found the line well today so she’ll improve yet.”
“We’ll see how she pulls up as to if she starts at Otaki on Monday but there’s a chance she will, and Son Of Patrick will be starting there too.”
The House stable also had a fourth placing with Fabricate who was beaten just 1.6 lengths.
Grass track racing continues in the North Island with the Kapiti Coast meeting at Otaki on Monday.