By Mike Love
West Melton trainer Andrew Drake didn’t have to wait long for Rack’em Up to break his maiden status.
The Betting Line three-year-old, who he also co-owns, took out the DMJ Builders-Anne Thompson Graduation (Heat 2) Mobile at Rangiora yesterday.
“It’s super. We are rapt with that,” said Drake.
Rack’em Up, driven by Jonny Cox, settled four back the markers for the majority of the 2600m journey. Gaps presented when the acid went on and Cox was able to work off the fence into a prominent position, going on to win by a neck at the line.
“I didn’t want to get too far back, but the run suited him fresh up,” said driver Jonny Cox.
“We chose the right gap to get out. He did it well.”
It was Rack’em Up’s first win from just two starts – and yesterday’s performance backed up the talent shown on debut back in June last year when running second to the talented Renaldo at Addington.
“He needed time. His first up run was super,” said Drake.
“He showed speed in his first start, but Coxy couldn’t steer him. So the time off helped.”
There were obvious signs of improvement still to come for the big gelding too as he looked to have plenty in store at the line.
Drake works at Kentuckiana Lodge for Chrissie and Cran Dalgety.
“I’m very lucky to be allowed to have him there and it helps to work him in with those ones.”
Other highlights on the programme included an emotional victory for driver Gavin Smith on the Robert and Jenna Dunn trained Dance Till Dawn in the Waimakariri Businesses Rangiora Winter Cup following the tragic death of his good friend Greg Sugars across the Tasman.
Both of the trotters’ heats of the Anne Thompson series were won easily. Heat one taken out by the James and Jim Geddes trained Just Easy, while the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained Paddy McDaddy opened up an eight length margin victory winning the second heat and will be hard to beat in the $20,000 final on May 18.
