You know what they say about trotters in form and Premium Player continued his brilliant run with a West Coast hat-trick at Reefton yesterday.
And those who had backed the Father Patrick four-year-old at Westport on Boxing Day and December 28 were rewarded when he won again, paying $7, with an emphatic victory in a strangely run Dawsons Hotel Reefton Trotters Cup.
The Gavin Smith-trained trotter won by three lengths for driver John Dunn. Premium Player settled three back the fence, before being sent forward to take the lead. He then trailed behind El Conqueror before Tu Tangata launched a bid three wide. With all the action out wide Premium Player got a sneaky run on the inside before clearing out by three lengths.
Against the likes of Paul Nairn-trained stablemates El Conqueror, Masterly and Tu Tangata it was a decent step up on what he’d raced against at Westport.
“He did it!” was the post on the Gavin Smith Racing Stable’s Facebook page.
“Proud of our wee fella winning all three days of the coast circuit, he’s such a neat horse to have around.”
“Great reward for (stable client) Ted Edwards who puts a lot into the game.
“Thanks again to the Dunns and Diamond Racing for taking him over for us with a textbook John Dunn drive to get the hat trick.”
It was Premium Player’s fourth win in 19 starts.
Th Matt Purvis-trained Piccadilly Pete was in the running for a hat-trick himself in the Rosco Constructors Reefton Pacers Cup after winning on both days at Westport for driver of the moment Sam Ottley.
The favourite started off 20m and had to bide his time as Teds Legacy settled three back the fence before pushing onto the lead. Piccadilly Pete then launched turning for home and looked to be a real chance before Teds Legacy and trainer-driver Jim Curtin rallied and and held on by a length from Dennis Denuto and Piccadilly Pete in third.
Curtin had a driving double on the day, also winning with Signal Hill in Race 1, the Speights Trot, as did Ben Hope with Franco Elvis and Blue Rock Dancer for his parents Greg and Nina Hope and Kyle Cameron with Opawa Peak and Carrera Kahu.
