Blue Collar goes two from two at Methven

By Mike Love 

Ohoka trainer Tom Bagrie is thrilled with the performance of his trotter Blue Collar at yesterday’s Methven meeting. 

Blue Collar made it two wins from as many starts when winning the Steve Parkinson - Orthopaedic Surgeon Trot for driver John Dunn. 

“He showed a bit of guts, which was good to see,” said Bagrie.  

Blue Collar made a clean beginning from his front line draw. Dunn elected to take the Tactical Landing gelding to the lead where there was no peace, being eyeballed by the parked horse Just Easy for the majority of the trip. 

In the run up the straight, Blue Collar skipped away and then held off a late finish from Macho Man in second and Didn’t Di, who was huge in claiming third. 

“It was his first stand start, and coming straight out of maidens is always hard. He’d come on from that first run well and seemed like he was heading in the right direction. We were hopeful he’d be competitive yesterday," said Bagrie. 

Blue Collar won his first start back on February 27 at Addington.

“There were a few weeks between his first race and yesterday. I was taking a few to Methven trials (March 14) and had a spare spot on the truck so thought I'd throw him on and see how he’d handle the grass.” 

Blue Collar went on to win that workout, and booking a spot at Mt Harding yesterday. 

Bagrie recounts the background of acquiring Blue Collar, and “the other one” which turned out to be a very fruitful pick up. 

“I got a horse off Peter O’Rourke at the Stallions Australasia Sales, and we kept in contact. He mentioned he had a few unbroken horses at Nevele R grazing, so I went and had a look and I took two home. One was Blue Collar and the other was Dash Dosh.” 

Dash Dosh, of course, was a winner of the Group 1 Trotting Oaks back in November. 

“He’s (Blue Collar) quite a big, leggy horse, but I've always liked him. Every time drivers jumped off of him at trials and workouts would say he would need some time, but they all liked him.

“There’s an invited drivers race back at Methven in a few weeks (April 12) which we will probably look at going to next.” 

Blue Collar is a four-year-old Tactical Landing gelding out of the mare Habibti Sadie (by Pegasus Spur). Habibti Sadie was unraced, and has left five foals, four of whom have won multiple times: Son Of The Cleaner (4 wins, including on Friday night at Alexandra Park), Magic Dash (9 wins), and Tactical Bid (4 wins) while there is an untried Wishing Stone two-year-old colt.  

Yesterday Bagrie also produced his maiden pacer Bella Ciao to pick up another placing, with that elusive win not far off. 

“She’s going some good races without a lot of luck. She’s close to winning one.”

Bagrie trains a team of 12 from his North Canterbury base. 

“Walkinonsunshine is back from her Auckland campaign, and Dash Dosh will be going to the trials tomorrow. They’ll be aimed at those good mares races in May.” 

Other highlights on the programme included a double for trainer Bruce Negus (Foliejon Star and Carlin), while Steve and Amanda Telfer also returned a double, including taking out the main race on the programme the $25,000 Woodlands Stud Little Green Jug with Get Seaside Lucky, while their other winner was Iron Brigade who was having his first start in the South Island.