It's Tough dominant in Rangiora Classic win

By Mike Love

It’s Tough proved his dominance in yesterday’s $40,000 Bee Buzz Apiaries Ltd Rangiora Classic (Handicap Pace) at Rangiora. 

Displaying his excellent standing start skills, It’s Tough, with driver John Dunn, was soon in front after the tapes were released, however an even faster beginning by back marker Ohoka Connor would see It’s Tough eventually take a brief trail before Dunn elected to move out and around to retake the lead.

From there Dunn rated the five-year-old Bettors Delight gelding to win, posting unpassable closing sectionals of 56.6 and 27.3, from the Hayden and Amanda Cullen pair, Harrison John and Hadron Collider. 

The win made it It’s Tough’s twelfth from twenty-eight starts, and cracked the $200,000 earnings mark for Woodend Beach trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn.  

“The Country Cup final is his main target. He will keep racing between now and then, but he’s pretty race fit already, so it’s just a matter of keeping him ticking over,” said co-trainer Jenna Dunn. 

The Country Cup final is scheduled for May 22nd, and is run over the extreme distance of 3200m from standing start conditions, with a stake of $100,000 at Addington. 

Better Go Vinnie gave the Dunns a double on the programme when winning the final race on the card, the Barnsy’s All Trade Services Mobile Pace, driven by John Dunn. The four-year-old Vincent gelding made it win three in his career, and second win with the Dunns after moving from the Brent and Tim White barn.

Other highlights on the programme included Champers Pat winning The Brook Bar & Eatery Trot for trainer Miranda Hallett, giving Hallett their second training win, the other win was back in 2016 with Tufflittlerooster which Hallett drove to victory in an amateur drivers race at Addington. 

Rachmaninov won the Wendy Williams And Kurt Ganzl Handicap Trot at start three hundred and thirteen, driven by John Dunn, who went on to drive a hat trick on the card. 

Samantha Ottley also drove a double with Blazing Knuckles for trainer Mark Jones in the Main Street Bar Rangiora Mobile Pace, while Holly Highlander took out the Robin & Geraldine Wilson Handicap Trot.