Photo: Angelique Bridson
Recipients of Cambridge Raceway’s inter-island summer travel subsidy had a rewarding night at the Waikato track on Thursday.
Tommysonaroll enjoyed victory in the Dunstan Recovery Mash Mobile Pace (2200m), while Yea You and Prince Envy recorded the quinella in the Merry Christmas From Dunstan Mobile Trot (2200m).
All three horses benefited from the travel subsidy, which funds the return travel via TFS Horse Transport of up to two horses per trainer from the South Island to the Waikato to race at Cambridge over the summer months.
As part of the incentive, the connections of Tommysonaroll and Yea You received a $1,000 bonus for their first win at Cambridge Raceway during their northern campaign.
The two victors are now eligible for the CRL $1,500 second win bonus and Dunstan Cambridge Horse of the Year competition worth $10,000, which all runners at the raceway are eligible for.
Cambridge Raceway chief executive Dave Branch was pleased to see early success from the club’s initiative.
“We were looking for some creative ways to boost our fields over the summer and wanted to help facilitate local trainers to add additional horses to their stables over this period,” Branch said.
“It is great to see owners and trainers utilising the travel subsidy and being rewarded with positive results, as we saw on Thursday.”
Local horseman Matthew White was full of praise for the club’s initiative, and he is hoping to garner more success from it after training and driving Tommysroll to victory on Thursday.
Initially raced in Southland, Tommysonaroll was purchased and syndicated by Off N Racing’s Andrew Fitzgerald, who elected to take advantage of the subsidy on offer by the northern club.
“Andrew sourced the horse and syndicated him,” White said.
“It was a good start for his owners, I think there are a few first-time owners in on him.
“They haven’t paid too much to get into the horse, so I think it is a great way for people to get involved.
“There are some good opportunities up here with the right sort of horse.
“The club is trying some new things and I tip my hat to them.”
White has only had the Auckland Reactor gelding for a couple of weeks but he has been pleased with what he has seen.
“I didn’t really know what to expect from him first-up up here, but his form from his last couple of races down south were good,” White said.
“He came up and settled in nicely. He has got a good constitution and got the job done. He got a nice trip on a good time, which is what suited him I think.
“I don’t think that will be his last win. He ran a nice time last night and hit the line well doing it.
“It gets a wee bit harder for him now, going up a grade, but with the right run he should earn his way.” – Cambridge Raceway
