Less is more for Winton winner Dragon Power

By Jonny Turner 

Jeremy Douglas' left-field approach paid its biggest dividends yet when Dragon Power scored at Winton on Sunday. 

The pacer continued his fine form when powering home late for the richest win of his career in a $25,000 Winter Rewards Final.

While Dragon Power has been a horse in the zone recently, his form hasn't always been quite as strong.

The turning point in the horse's career has proven to be the drastic changes Douglas made to the pacer’s training regime after a run of outs.

"We couldn't train another horse the way we train him, but it suits him."

"We took a gamble with him, he was consistently running last in the (rating) 35 grade."

"One week there I didn't work him for the week and he came out and run a 1.55 mile then backed up the next week and won."

"That is what his training is now, he hardly does anything."

"It blows me away that it works and continues to work."

"If you had a barn full of horses like him it would be easy."

Dragon Power won in a higher grade at Ascot Park in his last start, before winning in the same fashion at Winton.

Driver Hayden Douglas sat the five-year-old off the pace in both events, before letting him have the last say.

"Last year when Hayden was learning to drive, he was also driving this horse who was incredibly difficult."

"He did a great job of looking after him and building his confidence and now he pulls out and expects to run past others."

Dragon Power is raced by a big group of owners, including several who are new to harness racing ownership.

Another Winter Rewards Final went to another pacer thriving on the southern winter racing scene in Cracker Opie.

The pacer ran to victory for trainer Brad Williamson and driver Kerryn Tomlinson in a slick time of 2.55.9 considering Winton's chilly conditions.

Cracker Opie's victory was a special one for his Waiuku part-owners Robert and Janice Austin, who sponsored the event.

Though they farm in Auckland, the owners are big supporters of the Brad Williamson stable and of southern harness racing, regularly making the trip down to cheer on their horses.

Like Dragon Power, Cracker Opie had been taking on tougher grades and relished a slight step down in company at Winton.

Tomlinson drove a patient race, staying out of the early burn before capitalising late.

"They were going a bit early and I thought I would just wait,” the reinswoman said.

"Before the race I was thinking I would have to make a move into it but I didn't have to."

"They were going so hard early, so the swoopers were going to come at some point and I was lucky enough to be one of them."

Honeycomb picked up a deserved Winter Rewards Final victory for trainer Hamish Hunter and driver Peter Hunter, following consistent efforts through the winter.

Joany Baby pounced late to add a Winter Rewards Final to her resume for trainer Denis O'Connell and driver Brent Barclay.