Nairn Doubles Up at Westport

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

The West Coast has been a fruitful starting point to the careers of many of Paul Nairn’s horses, and this year has proven no different.

The Leeston trainer picked up a double on the first day of Westport’s meeting on Boxing Day when trotting juvenile Masterly won on debut, while dual stakes-winning trotter Outamyway showed his diversity when winning on debut as a pacer.

Backing up two days later the pair continued their winning ways on the heavy going at Patterson Park, with Masterly winning the Bernie Stewart Memorial Trot (2600m) and Outamyway taking out he TRT Builders Pace (2000m).

“It is a trip away for them. It is a beautiful grass track here, it was just a bit disappointing that it was wet today,” Nairn said.

“I always think if they handle the West Coast they will handle anything, you have no worries about going to Auckland and the like.”

While pleased with the results from both runners, Nairn will elect to bypass Reefton on Thursday with Masterly after his tough run on Tuesday.

“It was pretty testing out there,” Nairn said. “Masterly only being two, I just think we will call that enough for him this trip and miss Reefton.”

Masterly was piloted by David Butt and Nairn enjoyed reuniting with his cousin to continue their illustrious partnership that has spanned the best part of 30 years.

“Most of my big wins Davey would have driven for me. We have had a lot of good times together and it has been a lot of fun,” Nairn said.

“You couldn’t get a better driver in a big race than Davey, he would remove a lot of the bad luck and he had some great results for me.

“Early on, Above The Stars won the Derby here and then he won the Rosso Antico, and then we went onto Australia and he won the Victoria Derby, South Australian Derby, and the Holmfield.

“Call Me Now was a great horse and won the Dominion Handicap and a couple of Free-For-Alls, and Stig was the next really good one.”

Nairn has been pleased with the way Outamyway has handled his first two assignments as a pacer, however, he may return to his original gait for the final day of the West Coast circuit on Thursday.

“Outamyway has done well,” Nairn said. “I have got him entered for the trot and the pace on Thursday, he might just be better going around in the trot for a change.

“He is just as happy pacing as he is trotting. He has done pretty well and he hasn’t been pacing that long. He has only had the hopples on for the last three months.

“He had a good, long spell after the Jewels and we thought it wouldn’t hurt to pace him just to alternate his training and it would be a bit better for his legs.

“I don’t see why he can’t switch back to trotting tomorrow. I still trot him as well.”