By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Cambridge trainer-driver Matthew White didn’t have long to wait before bringing up a significant milestone at Hawera this afternoon.
In the very first race of the day, the Taranaki Steelformers Handicap Trot (2100m), he got the second favourite Mocca Francy away safely from the 30m mark and then lobbed the one-one before beating Bun In The Oven by a neck.
“She has shown a bit of form of late and got a nice trip.”
It was White’s 200th driving success in New Zealand.
“I’d forgotten I was so close but it was a nice milestone to get.”
Trained by Stephen Doody, the Pegasus Spur five-year-old went into the race on the back of a win and a second placing in her last two starts and the victory was her third in 29 starts. White has not been her regular pilot though, the last time he drove her was at Manawatu in March 2021.
“She seems the full package now, some of those young trotters take a while.”
White was also delighted for Mocca Francy’s breeder and co-owner Carey Hobbs, who is the Chief Executive of Taranaki Racing.
“It was great to get one for him, he’s a local boy – he’s pretty chuffed.”
White’s first win was with Blake’s Red Sox at Manawatu in 2002 though his most memorable was a few years later.
“I won the Jewels with Safin at Cambridge, it was my last year as a junior driver in front of a massive home crowd.”
Trained by John Green and Brian Hughes, Safin won the 3YO Diamond at Cambridge in 2008.
Other highlights include a win in the 2014 Group 1 Western Australian Derby with Three Blind Mice and a third in the 2012 Inter Dominion Final with Lombo Navigator.
White spent eight years in Perth, only returning to Cambridge in 2019, where he now trains a team of 14.
As for future targets?
“It’s pretty simple – driving and training more winners and I just want to keep pressing on.”
