The Falcon takes flight at Addington

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

The Falcon made amends for his last start antics when winning the Cheviot Business Cheviot Cup (2600m) at Addington Raceway on Sunday.

The Group One performer missed away from the stand in the Amberley Cup at Rangiora last week, but he had no such qualms at Addington.

The son of Bettor’s Delight began well off his unruly mark on the front row to take an early lead for driver Gerard O’Reilly.

O’Reilly kept an honest tempo up front but was attacked for the lead at the bell by Kiss The Girls, however, he was adamant he would maintain the lead.

The Falcon showed his grit down the straight to gain a break on his rivals and ran away to a 1-3/4 length victory over Above N Beyond, with a further nose back to Teagan Banner in third.

“I was rapt with his run,” said Geoff Dunn, who trains the four-year-old in partnership with his son James.

“We have only had him at a few stands and he was going well at the trials, and he was going well at Addington, and he went on the grass last week and just missed.

“It made all the difference getting out like that today, but he was put under a lot of pressure, so it was a really good run.

“He is a lovely horse who I think is only going to get better with time.”

Dunn is now weighing up his options with The Falcon who boasts a third placing behind Krug and B D Joe in last year’s Group One  New Zealand Pacing Derby (2600m).

The Country Cups Final is now becoming a distinct possibility, with the final held at Addington Raceway a distinct drawcard for Dunn.

“That is the only one so far, so if we can find some more (to qualify for the Country Cups Final) we will. We will go to that if we can,” he said.

“It would be perfect for him, he loves Addington.

“We will just see how he comes through everything because I think he has got a big future.

“We will take him day by day at this stage.”