Hopes with a hat-trick at Rangiora

By Mike Love 

A hat-trick of wins at Rangiora yesterday continued a great start to the father-son training partnership of Greg and Ben Hope. 

They have now won seven races since going into partnership on April 1, and finished a close second in the Group 1 Rowe Cup with Mr Love behind Bet N Win at Alexandra Park on Friday night. 

“He’s (Mr Love) come a long way. My parents own him so it makes it even better.

“To be fair the rest of the team haven't had a lot of luck lately. But they’re going good races and hopefully we can have a decent run through the winter,” said co-trainer and driver Ben Hope.

The first of the three winners yesterday came in Race 2, the Keith Woolley Fencing Handicap Pace with Blue Rock Dancer who came off a 20 metre back mark. 

Blue Rock Dancer began well, settling sixth in the running in what was a torrid first part of the race. Driver Ben Hope worked into the one by one position before launching their attack from the quarter, tackling the pacemakers who had worked a lot early, and holding off late challengers to win by three quarters of a length at the line. 

“The race panned out perfectly for him. I thought if they go hard early and we can get an economical trip he’d be running on as good as any.” 

That was Blue Rock Dancer’s ninth career win. 

Kashanova made it back to back victories for the Hope team in Race 3, the third heat of the Anne Thompson Graduation Series for trotters. Kashanova was on debut and sent out a warm favourite after some sound trials and workouts. The Love You gelding is out of Sunny Kash who won six races making him a half brother to the well performed Eurokash and Eurostyle. 

Beginning quickly from their inside draw or one, Kashanove and Hope led all of the way and never looked in doubt, winning comfortably by one and a quarter lengths. 

“He’s a safe trotter. I chased him a little bit from the barrier. He got a bit keen in front. But he’s got a lot of improvement in him.”

Rounding out the hat-trick was Zarlini in Race 10, the Canterbury Plains Challenge heat eight. Showing gate speed from a mid row draw, Hope and Zarlini then handed up to Lord Muldrick. A textbook up the markers victory saw the five-year-old Bettor's Delight mare win with ease by one and a half lengths, from runner up Lord Mudrick. 

Other highlights on the card included a double in the sulky for drivers Ricky May (Timbimboo and Sunny Louis) and John Dunn (Times Are A Changin and Celestial Sea) and a powerful victory in the $25,000 feature the Kotare Downs Rangiora 3YO Stakes by the Regan Todd trained and Robbie Close driven Spirit Downunder.