Paynter scores trotting trifecta

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Local trainer Ross Paynter’s colours were to the fore in the Check Out The CR Hire Equipment Trot (2200m) at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday, making up the first three.

Tourminator, Ngauruhoe and Itaintnecessarilyso were making their debuts and made the perfect start in securing the trifecta.

Tourminator began well for driver Andre Poutama to take an early lead before he handed up to Ngauruhoe down the back straight.

The son of Andover Hall was left untroubled up front and Toruminator was able to take advantage of her economical trip and shot up the passing lane to win by a head over her stable mate, with Itaintnecessarilyso running home well to secure the stable trifecta.

Adding to the result for Paynter was the fact that he co-bred and part-owns Tourminator and Ngauruhoe.

Paynter was pleased with the result and said the groundwork put into the trio is starting to pay off.

“All the trials that they have had paid dividends tonight. It was great,” Paynter said.

“Tourminator is just a little professional. She is still learning the ropes but she normally does things right.

“The other two horses went really well. They have still got the non-removable deafeners on.

“Later on we will get them used to pulling them off their ears but the other filly is quite lazy so I went with the removable deafeners.”

Paynter was staring down the possibility of a first four in he race, however, his other runner Mont Blanc broke when looming wide around the final turn.

“We could have got the first four if he trotted all the way,” Paynter lamented.

Paynter is looking forward to the future with his trio of trotters, particularly Tourminator who he has Oaks aspirations with.

“We are going to go to the Northern Oaks at Auckland, that’s the plan at the moment,” he said.

“She will need a couple of races in-between. I am not a big fan of racing those young fillies against the older horses too much. I will just have to sit down and see what we do there.

“I think she is a filly that will keep on improving. I haven’t thrown too much at her yet. She will get better with a bit of racing and time.”