Fensoms go two from two at Cambridge

By Brigette Solomon

Husband and wife duo Rhys and Penny Fensom combined to score a winning double from their two starters at Cambridge Raceway on Tuesday.

The pair train a small team from their Pukekohe stable with Penny taking charge of the training, and Rhys doing the race day driving.

“It was a really great night,” said Rhys Fensom, “Penny does a great job with the horses and if we didn’t have moments like this, I don’t think we’d be doing it!”

Their first winner of the night came by way of Savarna who broke her maiden status when taking out the Diamond Racing Supports NZHAT Mobile Pace for fillies and mares.

“I was very confident heading into the race with Savarna as we’d made some gear changes and her work had been really good,” said Fensom, “she’s also taken some time to mature and got a bit stronger this time round.”

From a starting draw of four, Fensom went forward with Savarna to take the early lead before handing up to the race favourite Im Not The Maid. When the leader galloped at the 1200 metre mark, Fensom was fortunate enough to avoid interference, remaining in the trail as the parked Sea Of Love took up the lead. It was then just a matter of awaiting the passing lane and when it came Savarna let down to make easy work of her rivals winning by 2.25 lengths at odds of $8.50.

“I was absolutely rapt with her and her owner is over the moon,” said Fensom, “these Tuesday meetings will suit her down to the ground.”

Their second winner of the night was the first starter Theo who took out the Harcourts Te Awamutu Supports NZHAT Mobile Pace. As well as training Theo, Penny is also part of the partnership that bred and races the horse.

The Vincent gelding pressed forward early from his starting draw of five with Fensom landing the trail to get an economical trip behind the leader Shonny Lou. Taking the run up the passing lane, Theo took some time to wind up but he hit the front when it count to win by a nose over Waltzing With Miki and Jahi, who finished second and third respectively.

The four-year-old gelding was a winner of four of five workouts prior to his race debut, however Fensom admits he wasn’t entirely confident heading into the race.

“He’s a lovely big horse but he has taken a long time to grow up and is a bit dumb,” said Fensom, “I think he was actually a bit surprised himself when he hit the front!”

“He still needs some time so it was good to be able to bring him here for the experience without knocking him round,” said Fensom, “both horses will be heading back to Cambridge in coming weeks.”

Other notable winners at the meeting were Red Rackham who took out the SG Stud Supports NZHAT Mobile Pace (R3) making it back to back wins for trainer Arna Donnelly, and three-year-old colt Always Flying, trained by Graeme Rogerson, who scored a fresh up win after nine months off the track in the Lincoln Farms Supports NZHAT Mobile Pace (R6).