Downey's trotters on fire at Alexandra Park

By Brigette Solomon

Kumeu-based trainer and driver Roydon Downey enjoyed a near perfect night at Alexandra Park on Friday, with a winning double and a second placing with his team of three trotters.

He had wins with Santapazienza and Sans Au Revoir, and a second with Saninarmbro.

“It was a great night,” says Downey, “I’m off on holiday to Niue in a week and the horses have earned their break too after their efforts.”

A farrier by trade, Downey trains just a small team of horses and also owns both Sans Au Revoir and Saninarmbro, and has a share of Santapazienza who he races with Aaron Lowe.

His first runner of the night, Saninarmbro, finished second in Race 1, the $100,000 Breeders Bonus, Book King Of The North Handicap Trot over 2200 metres. After starting well, the seven-year-old mare sat parked throughout and was beaten by the leader Ultimate Moment who was a convincing winner by 3.5 lengths.

“He begun well and I was hoping to drop into the trail but he was up and travelling and by the time I could restrain him enough, Emily Johnson had her runner inside me and I was left parked for the trip,” said Downey, “with a better trip it might have been three winners but maybe next time!”

Santapazienza was Downey’s first winner of the night, with the gelding breaking through to score his maiden victory at his sixth start in Race 3,the Haras Des Trotteurs – Stallion Expo 27 July Handicap Trot.

“He was due a win, he’s gone some good races and has been getting better with the racing,” said Downey, “he’ll head to the paddock now.”

Despite his consistent form of late he still paid $18 for the win.

The three-year-old by Wishing Stone enjoyed an economical run sitting three back on the fence for the majority of the race. Downey shifted out down the back straight on the last occasion to sit parked and was travelling comfortably turning into the home straight, hitting the lead with 150 metres to run and maintaining his lead to score the win by a length.

It was Sans Au Revoir’s win in Race eight, the Tactical Approach @ Alabar – Winter Rewards Final Handicap Trot that topped the night off for Downey.

“She’d gone poorly at her last start in a junior drivers race and after that I changed her shoes, putting flip flops on her,” said Downey, “the shoeing change has definitely helped her plus she got a good run and does seem to prefer the 2700 metres.”

The six-year-old mare started the race off a 10 metre handicap, stepping away safely albeit steadily and landed herself three back on the markers where she remained throughout running. With the race favourite Eagle Hanover leading the field until the home straight, Downey bided his time before making his move in the run home, and while momentarily unable to find clear running, eventually shifted outward to find daylight with 100 metres to run and battled on well to snatch the win by a nose over Eagle Hanover.

“I’d taken her to Palmerston North earlier in the year and she went terribly and didn’t handle the trip well at all,” said Downey, “in hindsight though I think it helped her as she came back and won after it and has continued to race well.”

It was the mare by Love You’s fifth lifetime win bringing her earnings to just over $66,000.

Another deserving winner at the meeting was the Graeme Rogerson-trained Seaclusion who took out the Southern Cross Partners Winter Rewards Final Mobile Pace. Although it was only the four-year-old mare’s second win, she has a further 15 placings to her name and has now earned $86,366 in prize money.