Cameron continues summer form

By Jonny Turner

There were mixed fortunes along the way for Kyle Cameron as El Sirrar produced one of his best performances to win at Marlborough on Friday.

Cameron got a four-wide drag into race 9 with El Sirrar at a crucial stage, which just happened to be when his other runner Tairlaw Toll jumped a dislodged pylon that was laying in the middle of the track.

After looming up on the home turn, the six-year-old kept giving to produce a win which Cameron described as one of his best.

“The stablemate caused a little bit of chaos in the field but it actually worked out alright for us,” the trainer-driver said.

“Turning in, I thought we have done a bit on the bend, but he really tried all the way to the line and saw it out.”

“It was a good run and probably one of his best.”

Cameron and his father Ian were two of just three drivers, alongside James Geddes, to make the winners circle on a day dominated by John Dunn and Blair Orange.

Dunn and Orange put on a driving master class, winning four races each on the 11-race card.

Ian Cameron produced an impressive victory with Gina’s Majesty in race 2.

The four-year-old was ten lengths off the lead at the 600m and was still last of the main pack on the home turn before unwinding strongly to score.

Kyle Cameron’s win with El Sirrar continued a strong run of form for the trainer-driver which started after Christmas and has continued into the new year.

Cameron produced Whiskey Cavalier to win at Westport before Opawa Louie won for him at Nelson last weekend.

Whiskey Cavalier was desperately unlucky at Marlborough on Friday and looks like a horse worth following in race 6 at the same track on Sunday.

“I couldn’t get a run anywhere up the straight, but that sort of run will do his brain the world of good.”

“He was a little bit fierce even with the speed they were going.”

“He is a handful to drive at times.”

“He is drawn 1 on Sunday and I just hope he can get off the gate pacing better than he was the first day.”

Whiskey Cavalier is part of a five-horse team Cameron lines up on Sunday which includes El Sirrar, Tarliaw Toll, Cashem and The Optimist.