Another win for amateur driver

Canterbury amateur driver and a painter by trade, Shannon Manawatu won his fourth race when Putere Boy (Ultimate Machete) trained by Darren Keast, won at Addington yesterday.

The former southern pacer was having his first start for Keast and was not pushed out of the gate early. He got into the one out line before Manawatu decided to go back to the inside. Turning in, it took two attempts for Manawatu to release the ear plugs. But once they were released, Putere Boy got a gap through the middle and got up to beat Follijon Star by a neck.

PUTERE BOY REPLAY

“He was travelling down the back and I was hoping the gaps would open up. I struggled to get them (plugs) out. I tried to kick them and they wouldn’t come out so I had to give them a good yank. There was a gap there that just opened up and he just charged through it,” Manawatu said.

The win was Manawatu’s fourth in forty seven drives. His last win was with Flyin Heather at The Met in November 2015.

“I did a bit of work for Gavin Cook and when I lived in North Canterbury Phil Burrows lived just round the corner. Until recently I was helping Jack Harrington but he’s moved to Australia. So I’m in between and looking for somewhere to go.”

Manawatu achieved his first win on only his second drive with Earthshaker at Rangiora in September 2014.

“I love it and have done for years. When I was a kid my old school principal Jack Morris used to train the odd horse and he used to take us out to the stable. I was the only one that showed any interest and when I got older I did the Amateur Drivers course at Addington Raceway.”

As a trainer Morris geared up 65 winners, including the 1999 New Zealand Sapling Stakes winner Holme For Xmas.

Yesterday’s win was even more special for Manawatu because he’s known the Keast family for years.

“I’ve known Darren since he was a wee boy through his dad Jamie. Jamie used to shoe horses for my cousin.“

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink