Nigel McGrath has always had a handy two year old in his stable and it looks as though he has another after Aloka won the Group Three Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic at Ascot Park yesterday. 

Driver Blair Orange took Aloka straight to the top from barrier one and held on to beat Ashley Locaz by a head with another McGrath runner Star Commander a length and a quarter back in third.  

"He travelled up on the bit. He's a pretty versatile horse who doesn’t have to lead. I’ve been associated with him all the way through and have got to know him. He’s always been a nice horse and racing was always going to bring him on. I think his run last week was better than today,” said Orange.

Aloka winning at Ascot Park

The race he was referring to, was a heat of the Sires Stakes at Addington when he was beaten by a neck by Spankem.

Orange says despite the relatively close margin in yesterdays two year old feature his charge still had a bit in reserve. 

“He had a pole on today and handled things a bit better. He was actually going quite easy at the finish. Even when they got close I was still going good enough. He’s got the makings of being a good two and three year old.”

Aloka's time of 2-43.7 for the 2200 metre mobile was a new race, track and Southland record. The old record of 2-43.8 was held by Mongolian Hero. 

However Mongolian Hero trained by Paul Court returned to the record books in the last race on Sunday's programme when he won the Transport Engineering Southland Mobile Pace.

Driver Blair Orange settled the three year old back in the field from a wide draw and was carted forward three wide on the back of Royal Counsel. With 900 metres to run he took Mongolian Hero to the lead. At the 400 he was being challenged by Tim Williams and Thefixer. These two horses came away from the chasing pack and Mongolian Hero held on bravely to beat Thefixer by a head with ten and a half lengths back to It Ain't The Money in third.

The time of 2-39.6 was a new three year old colts and geldings track record, a new all comers record and Southland record. Eamon Maguire (2-39.8) was the previous record holder. It was a remarkable time for a cold early evening. The race started at 5:15pm. 

Mongolian Hero returning after winning at Ascot Park           Photo Bruce Stewart

It was Blair Orange's second winner of the day and 150th of the season. Of the 150 winners he has driven this season 43 have been in the southern region.His previous best record was last season when he had 123 winning drives.

Orange was involved in the nasty accident that caused the abandonment of the previous race but was cleared to drive Mongolian Hero in the last. 

It was very unfortunate that Louis had to be put down as a result of the crash that occurred shortly after the start of Race 10 at Ascot Park. We all wish injured driver Peter Hunter a speedy recovery. 

Meanwhile Southern Harness has decided to pay $300 to all starters in the abandoned race. The connections of Malik the only starter from outside the province, will be paid $500.

Bruce Stewart
Southland harness racing