Cambridge double for local trainer

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Local trainer Mike Berger had the perfect result at Cambridge Raceway on Friday night, posting two wins from two runners.

“It was a good night, we will take it,” Berger said.

Juvenile pacer Cos I Can opened Berger’s account when breaking maiden ranks in the Thames Harness Racing Club At Cambridge Mobile Pace (2200m).

The son of Always B Miki was taken back early from the mobile by stable junior driver Luke Whittaker before he pounced on the back of Mr Wonderful to get a drag into the race.

He remained in the coveted one-one position until Whittaker asked him to improve three wide at the 400m mark and he duly responded, running away to a three-quarter length victory over Mr Wonderful, with a further head back to Aztec Shard in third.

The win brought a smile to the face of Berger who believes a bright future is instore for the colt.

“He got a nice trip. I quite like him,” he said. “I think he is a few months away from being a nice horse, he has still got to fill out a fair bit and grow into himself.

“I do have a fair bit of time for him. I think he will develop into quite a handy horse.”

Later on the card Berger took out the feature pacing race of the meeting when Pull The Other Leg had an all the way victory in the Bayleys Whitianga Thames Pacers Cup (2200m).

The four-year-old gelding was second-up and Berger said he could be forgiven for his first-up subpar showing.

“First-up he hadn’t had any trials and he was kind of disappointing,” Berger said. “I think it was my own mistake in reflection, he probably wasn’t quite ready for it.

“But that run under his belt improved him a bit.”

While Cambridge remains under COVID-19 Level 3 restrictions, Berger said it has been a tonic for the local racing community for the sport to continue at The Raceway.

“It is good that we can keep racing, I think that has been a blessing,” he said.