Invercargill winner Johns Boy - "as honest as the day is long"

By Jonny Turner

Johns Boy ran to a deserved victory and a special win for the Crofts family at Ascot Park on Saturday.

After competing in several Gold Chip Finals, the trotter charged home late to clinch a well-earned win for trainer Lindsay Veint and driver Andrew Armour.

Johns Boy is raced by father and son Barry and Tony Crofts, alongside the estate of the late John Crofts.

Barry and Tony Crofts were thrilled to cheer home the trotter named after their late father and grandfather.

“It is good, it is just a shame that dad is not here to be amongst it,” Barry Crofts said.

“The horse has been very consistent, he’s done a great job.”

“His manners are the key to it and he’s been well driven.”

Johns Boy is one of several trotters the Crofts family have bred and raced from the family of the former open class trotting mare Be Not Afraid.

Johns Boy has formed a great combination with Andrew Armour who gave the five-year-old a perfect run in the trail throughout.

“You just rock up to the races and put your card in the ATM and he pays out,” Armour said.

“He is as honest as the day is long.”

“He has got unbelievable manners.”

Another consistent performer clinched a deserved win when Mydadtheterror finally broke his maiden on Saturday.

The four-year-old had raced consistently in his 23 prior starts and edged closer to a win in two recent second placings.

But on Saturday, Mydadtheterror was finally able to break through for trainer Richard Stevens.

Stevens picked the pacer up off the Gavelhouse auction site and the horse has continued to improve under his care.

“He was a ready-made horse when we got him,” the trainer said.

“We have battled away with him and he has finally come to it.”

“He has started to get some gate speed and he went a good time today.”

Blair Orange had Mydadtheterror in front throughout to win race 4 on Saturday.

For more coverage of John’s Boy’s click here

For more coverage of Mydadtheterror’s win click here