Douglas delivers birthday double at Winton

By Jonny Turner

Hayden Douglas sorted his own birthday present with his winning double at Winton on Thursday.

The junior driver caused an upset for punters in the opener at Central Southland Raceway when he guided Harold Hanover to victory at nearly 50-to-one odds.

Douglas then doubled up a day before his 25th birthday when he combined with Jordan Anne for a front-running win.

Jordan Anne has made a habit of winning penalty races, which include her decisive win in a heat of the World Driving Championships late last year for Dutch reinsman Jaap van Rijn.

On Thursday, Douglas also called on the mare’s gate speed as she produced a carbon copy win.

“With the early speed she has, it really was the key to it.”

“We were able to get across quite quickly and from there she was quite happy in front.”

“They got up to her, but she dug in.”

While Harold Hanover may have surprised punters, his win with the Earl Swain-trained pacer didn’t come as a total shock to Douglas.

“Earl was quite confident, he thought the horse had come on quite well from his first run back at Gore last week.”

“I have had some good luck with the horse, he seems best when he can have that last run at them.”

Douglas’ winning double took him to 53 career wins in the sulky.

The reinsman’s victory with Heaven at Addington recently took him to 50 wins, meaning he is no longer a concession junior driver.

“It was a good one to tick off and it came almost bang on two years since my first win.”

Douglas has had a handful of opportunities in Group races along the way and will get another at Wyndham on Sunday in the Kubala Seeds Champagne Stakes with Always A Menace.

“She has been going great, it is obviously a huge step up for her but the preferential draw over the mile will be a help.”

Douglas will also link up with Always B Batman on Sunday, following their strong win at Ascot Park recently.

“He has come back really well this time and it is a similar field to last start, so he should be a nice chance.”

Douglas wasn’t the only junior driver in form at Winton on Thursday.

Carter Dalgety, Daniel Anderson and Georgia Goodman also notched wins on the eight-race card.