Barclay - Kilkelly double

"It was good to finally get the monkey off my back and get a bit of stress off the shoulders;" the first words  harness racing trainer Kirstin Barclay said after Just Say Go and Don't Pass I'm Fast won consecutive races at Winton today.

Just Say Go in the hands of junior reinsmans Jamie Campbell won the John Keenan Memorial Mobile Pace comfortably by one and three quarter lengths.

"I was pretty confident. He raced well first up at Invercargill in the slush with a hopeless draw and ran on strongly. We took him to Balfour last weekend and again he ran home strongly. It was a poor field today so we were confident."

The win was Campbell's second in his career. 

"It was great to get the win for Jamie. He's been a big help to us over the years. If we've ever been stuck we could always ring him and he'd come and give us a hand." 

In the next race Don't Pass I'm Fast beat the claimers, running the mile in 1-59.9. After a nice trip driver Andrew Suddaby eased the Art Official mare out of the one one and took the lead at the top of the straight. She held on to beat favourite Longevity by three quarters of a length.

Don't Pass I'm Fast winning                                                 Photo Bruce Stewart

"Shes improving all the time. I really liked her early on after she showed a lot in track work but didn't show up on the racetrack. We've changed the way we train her. We've backed right off her. She used to cop a fair bit of work because she's a big strong looking horse. Andrew, who helps us out, suggested that maybe we try going the other way. She often has a day off before the races. She does very little."

Don't Pass I'm Fast is out of the Wingspread mare Fast Winger. She also left the ill-fated Almost A Christian which won four of his eight starts and Still Laughin the winner of seven for Ken and Clark Barron. 

Don't Pass I'm Fast returning to the birdcage          Photo Bruce Stewart

Both Just Say Go and Don't Pass I'm Fast are owned by Tom Kilkelly. Don't Pass I'm Fast won the Regent Car Court Claimers Mobile Pace. Regent Car Court is owned by Kilkelly so it was a great result.

 

Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing