A Douglas stable quinella

The followers of the leading state harness racing trainer Julie Douglas didn’t know where to look as the horses crossed the line in the Nevele R Stud Pace at Melton. 

The Douglas trained pair Dhaulagiri (American Ideal) and Kosimo settled behind the leader and three back along the pegs respectively while the $4 favorite Hes A Meister lobbed two horses back in the running line. 

Dhaulagiri was the first horse into the sprint lane and then John Caldow on Kosimo followed him through with both horses locked together on the line. 

The photo finish decreed that Dhaulagiri ($5) had a short half head to spare from Kosimo in a mile rate of 1:55.3 for the 2240 metres.  

Dhaulagiri has edged out his stablemate ,Kosmio, to win the Nevele R Stud Pace for Julie Douglas and Jack Laugher. pic.twitter.com/MPtTIXs3vj

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) May 11, 2024

Winning driver Jack Laugher said the barrier draw made all the difference for Dhaulagiri. 

“He hasn’t been going all that badly this horse but I said last week that he probably needs to be on a helmet for a bit longer than I have been and then he lobbed in the breeze,” Laugher said. 

“But he got the right draw tonight and had a nice sit on Kate’s (Gath) horse and it all went the way he liked it,” he said.  

Laugher agreed the genuine mid race tempo suited the stablemates. 

“It did feel like we had quickened up a bit but my horse was doing it pretty easy himself so it suited me and Kosimo sitting there nice and quiet,” he said. 

Laugher believes Dhaulagiri has improved this campaign. 

“He showed that he had a bit of ability when he first came down from Queensland but he was doing a lot of things wrong, this time back his manners have been a little bit better and at least he’s finishing off his races now,” he said. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink