By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Oamaru trainer Eion Latimer says he “nearly fell over” after seeing the market move on his horse Wavewatcher at Ashburton today.
The Downbytheseaside four-year-old will have his 19th start in race 3, the Red Park Farm Mobile Pace.
While a win has so far proved elusive Wavewatcher has been crunched from an opening quote of $11 into $4.20 on the fixed odds, with Latimer as surprised as anyone about the amount of money on his horse.
“It wasn’t me,” he said.
“I didn’t believe it when I saw it,” says Latimer, “I nearly fell over.”
The horse Latimer describes as an “enigma” was purchased off gavelhouse as a weanling.
“He’s closely related to some nice horses, like Triple G.”
So far he has had five placings in his 18 starts.
He was 10th last start at Omakau “but the heat got to him that day” with an encouraging sixth at Gore before that behind the likes of Da Vinci, Major Torque and Watermelon Sugar.
“He was really good in that three-year-old race at Gore.”
Wavewatcher has drawn 3 over the 1700m distance, with Matty Williamson in the seat.
“If he gets out of the gate he can go a good race – he’s a first four chance.”
The Steven McRae-trained Little Biddy shares favouritism with Wavewatcher on the fixed odds (both at $4.20) with the Matt Purvis trained and driven Ultimatum next at $5.
“Coming up 77” Latimer only trains two horses from his Oamaru base. The other one is Rural Cash.
Whether he makes it career training win number 46, and his first since February 2021, will be known around 1.28 this afternoon.
