House secures double at his second home

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Junior reinsman Wilson House secured a winning double at his home away from home on Thursday, Manawatu Raceway.

House has spent plenty of time in Palmerston North campaigning horses for his father Michael House, and the Canterbury barn was once again dominant at Manawatu Raceway this week.

Wilson House was in the bike for the stable’s first two victories on Thursday when he guided Boulton Home to win the Manawatu ITM Mobile Pace (2500m) and Alexis Rocket to take out the Woodlands Stud Mobile Pace (2500m).

House admitted to being slightly surprised by their results, but he was rapt nonetheless.

“I actually didn’t think Boulton Home had much of a chance based on his last performance, so to get that win was a real thrill,” he said.

“Alexis Rocket was much the same. I thought I could quite easily get buried on the pegs, but we managed to get out down the back and got a lovely run down the straight, and he got home really well.”

To cap the night, Franco Hoffman secured a stable treble when winning the Hawera On Grass Next Wednesday Mobile Pace (2500m) in the hands of the country’s leading reinsman Blair Orange.

“He has been going super in his last two performances in the Central Districts,” House said. “He has now won his last two at Palmerston North.”

Michael House’s raid on the North Island has temporarily come to an end, with the stable’s entire North Island contingent heading back to Canterbury before regrouping for their return to Manawatu Raceway next month.

“We have closed the Morrinsville stable until a later date. At the moment everything is going to go home tonight,” Wilson House said.

“We are all heading home on the midnight ferry and will be home tomorrow (Friday).

“Some of them are getting a bit tired, so just need a wee freshen-up and then they will be ready for the next Manawatu meeting.”