Ultimate Counsel gets well-deserved win

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Trainer of one Nigel Perkins was rewarded for his perseverance at Addington last night.

The Ashburton-based diesel mechanic/hobby trainer has lined up his only horse Ultimate Counsel in 15 races this year and last night the He's Watching six-year-old delivered in Race 3, the Join Now Canterbury Owners Association Pace.

It was just the gelding's second win in 46 starts - the other coming at Reefton in December 2023.

"He's been a lot of fun to have," Perkins told Harness Unhinged's Nigel Armstrong post race.

Ultimate Counsel's performance was contrary to his usual racing pattern. Normally he steps well and gets handy in his races. Last night though he settled four back the fence in the five-horse field before getting into the one-one around the 500 metre mark. He then overhauled leader and favourite Kasarani to win by half a length.

"I thought he was a bit flat at the turn but he kicked on again," Nikita Burton said post race.

"He's been going good enough races, he was unlucky a few starts back and then had a step up in grade last start so I thought he'd go good (tonight)."

The win means Ultimate Counsel's season isn't done yet.

"That was going to be it but he'll have one more (race) now," says Perkins.

Perkins has now trained five winners with his first being Mustang Link at Timaru in 2004. His other winners have been Soky's Courage and Kamwood Blue Chip.

Last night also saw the latest in a long line of dead heats this year.

In the last of the night, the Seahorse Supplements Mobile Pace, nothing could separate She's a Jewel and Gimmesomelovin for trainer-drivers Matthew Williamson and Kyle Cameron.

Remarkably it is harness racing's 10th dead heat in this country in 2025 and the 14th since August 1, 2024.

Previously the highest for a season in the last decade was seven in 2018.

The average since the 1999-2000 season is just 3.5.