House with three win buffer heading to Reefton

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Maybe Race 4 at Monday's big meeting at Motukarara will mirror the battle in the 2025 Junior Drivers Premiership.

In the Canprint Mobile Pace Wilson House just got home with $38 outsider Sweet Willow over Carter Dalgety and Beaudiene Always B in a spirited finish.

There was only a half neck, a half head and a nose in it, with the House-Dalgety quinella paying $283. 

It was House's second win on the day, following on from favourite Route Sixty Six in Race 3, the Dakins Group Mobile Pace. 

Those wins took House to 93 wins for 2025, and tellingly three ahead of closest rival Dalgety.

He is now a $1.01 favourite to win the premiership after starting the day at $1.70. 

"It's been a great run of late, including a Listed race for one of my best mates," says House.

"And before that Carter had a great Invercargill Cup day to pull ahead."

His Listed win was with the Jack and Anne-Marie Best-trained The Present Maker at the Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 at Ashburton while Dalgety had a treble at Ascot Park including Invercargill Cup winner Republican Party.

Going into Motukarara House had a one win buffer 91 to 90. 

Now with just Reefton and the Auckland Cup meeting left it is advantage House.

He has nine drives at Reefton on Tuesday while Dalgety has four. 

Last year there was a similarly neck and neck battle between Dalgety and Sam Thornley before Dalgety snared his first Junior Drivers' Premiersip.

Will history repeat itself or will it be House who claims his first title?

The feature pace at Motukarara also saw Here's Herbie win the Paul Renwick Joinery Motukarara Christmas Cup after driver Colin DeFilippi got a good lead and then controlled the tempo out front while Love Walked In produced the day's biggest upset.

Trained by Greg and Ben Hope and driven by Gemma Thornley, the Love You six-year-old mare turned around some ordinary form to win Race 12, the Wendy Fletcher and Gary Bree Trot, paying $51.