The final race of the season has been run and the statistics
are in, 2006/2007 has been a great season for Harness Racing
with the increase in stakes, Harness Jewels and greater
profile of racing we can only look forward to an even better
2007/2008 season.
The trainers premiership was taken out by David and
Catherine Butt, this being their third premiership win,
having won it last year and also 2003/2004 season. This has
been their best season ever for winners taking out the
premiership with 90 wins from 432 starts, earning stakes of
$845,547 and UDR of .3266.
The drivers premiership was won convincingly by Peter
Ferguson reaching 100 wins from 640 starts, earning
$1,342,529 in stakes with a UDR of .2934. His 100th win came
on the 26th July at Cambridge on Izshefaking, this is
Ferguson’s second premiership win, the first being in
2002/2003 with 104 winning drives.
The junior drivers had a close battle for top spot between
Gavin Smith and Nathan Williamson. Smith ended the season on
54 wins from 501 starts, earnings of $483,405 in stakes and
a UDR of .2054. Smith now leaves the junior ranks on a high,
starting next season as stable foreman and open driver for
Graeme Rogerson and Peter Simpson.
The 2600m pace was won by the three-year-old gelding
Keytoourdreams, trained and driven by Gerard O’Reilly.
Starting from a stand, Keytoourdreams began well and took
the lead, he bowled along in front without being challenged
until turning for home. Favourite Corka Dream who galloped
at the start, put on the pressure with an exceptional run
but couldn’t gun down the talented youngster who held on to
win by half a length.
Keytoourdreams is by Dream Away and the last and most
successful foal from mare Keytone. He finishes the season
with six wins from sixteen starts and has earned owners the
Longbush Syndicate $36,498 in stakes.
The race named in memorial of racing legend Derek Jones was
taken out by no other than HRNZ’s Assistant Education
Officer Aimee Edmonds driving the Peter Cowan-trained Joe
Boy.
From 20 metres Joe Boy started well and settled mid-field,
on the turn for home, coming out four wide he showed a great
turn of speed and flew down the outside to win by
three-quarters of a length over Dear Diedre.
Joe Boy is a six-year-old gelding by top of the premiership
sire Sundon out of Strike Account. This is his second win
this season from 20 starts.
On the final race night of the season at Addington Raceway,
Derek Jones was immortalised in the Hall of Fame a fitting
tribute to such a great man.
The last race of the 2006/2007 season, the 2600m Travel
Practice Mobile Pace was won by the Kevin Fairburn-trained
Diana May. The tough six-year-old mare finally had a well
deserved win. Driven by Shane Walkinshaw they took the lead
in the early stages before settling in the trail. Taking
advantage of the passing lane she took on the leader,
running him down to win by half a length.
The gutsy New York Motoring/Happy Sunset mare finished the
season on three wins, ten seconds and six thirds from
thirty-four starts and enjoying $50.380 in stakes.
Her most notable achievement was finishing second to Some
Direction in the Addington Mare of the Season. Those that
she finished ahead of included Jasmyn’s Gift and It’s Ella.
It was a fitting finale to a breakthrough season in harness
racing. Addington Raceway inducted the late, great Derek
Jones into their Hall of Fame, with the assistance of
Jones’s family on Friday night.
Jones is now the fourth inductee into the Addington Raceway
Hall of Fame, following the legendary Maurice Holmes, Jack
Carmichael and trailblazing woman of harness Helen Pope.
Jones who passed away last year has left behind an indelible
mark and legacy in harness racing, the induction into his
local Hall of Fame is apt as a final acknowledgment.
