By Brigette Solomon
Lord Delmar is after a hat-trick of wins and just his second in two days when he lines up in Tuesday’s Peter and Wendy Ferguson Mobile Pace at Manawatu (5.44pm).
The Downbytheseaside four-year-old was the standout performer at Sunday’s meeting taking out the City of Palmerston North Festival Cup for local trainer John Gommans. He trains the horse alongside his son Mark Gommans.
“We were rapt with him, he’s really turned the corner,” said Mark Gommans, “there’s still a few things to work out on him yet so I think he’ll still have some improvement in him but he’s a tough horse and very competitive.”
The gelding’s fifth career victory was earned with a well-rated drive by junior driver Harrison Orange, who found the lead from barrier five without requiring too much work. Despite laying in on the final turn, Lord Delmar had the field in hand to take the win by a length over Fredastaire.
“Dad’s on holiday in Thailand at the moment and he was pretty stoked to watch him win from abroad,” said Gommans, “he actually arrived in Thailand and was in the airport when the earthquake hit but luckily, he’s safe and well and now on one of the outer islands.”
“The horse has given us a few ups and downs but we’re really enjoying the ride with him at the moment.”
Lord Delmar will start the race from barrier seven and be driven once again by Orange.
“He meets a similar field and although he’s drawn wide, we’re not too concerned as he has good gate speed if he chooses to go forward and has proven himself against most of the field,” said Gommans, “he is starting to get up in the ratings a bit now, so John and I will have to have a sit down and work out a bit of a plan for him going forward.”
Tuesday’s meeting also sees the dominant Michael House Stable produce 15 starters, including four runners who will make their Manawatu debut. They are Koko Kaboom (4) who starts in the Creative Catering Handicap Trot, with the remaining three – Lorton Vale, Matai Harry and Robyns Art – all lining up in the Happy 45th Birthday Greg Olsen Mobile Pace.
“Three of the four having their first look at Manawatu are also new to the stable so we are still getting to know them,” says Wilson House, “Koko Kaboom has good form and has raced well of late, but we will just have to see how she handles the smaller track.”
“The other three are all a work in progress, I’m driving Matai Harry whose track work hasn’t been too bad, but we will get more of a line on all three after tomorrow and they will be staying on to race here again next week.”
“I think the best of our team are probably Follow Me Fantasy and Gotta Elect Bill whose actually been racing better than his form line suggests.”
Gotta Elect Bill (9) starts in the Peter and Wendy Ferguson Mobile Pace, while Follow Me Fantasy starts in the Brodie Ellis Family Stables Family Pace off the back of a second placing when narrowly beaten by Captain Kobe.
The House stable scored a winning treble on Sunday with Wilson House driving both Tinkerbelle and Stickifingers to win, and Harrison Orange partnering Captain Kobe for his second career victory.
Racing action gets underway at 3.59pm.
