Bits n Bridles

Marketplace’s (Bettor’s Delight) recent three start campaign in Australia earned him  $65,400 and made him into a millionaire pacer.

From just twenty six starts, the gelding has now won $1,035,646 for his connections Glenys and Phil Kennard, Peter Baken, Graeme Beirne, John Magness and trainer Regan Todd.

The Kennards have now owned thirteen millionaires Bettor Twist, Fiery Falcon, Highview Tommy, Isaiah, Lazarus, Major Mark, Marketplace,  Smolda, South Coast Arden, Spankem, Thefixer, Ultimate Machete and Ultimate Sniper.

Classy trotting filly Duchess Maria (Father Patrick) is not too far from reappearing in public.

As a two year she was unbeaten in four starts, all at Group Three level.

In her last start she beat Kyvalley Ray by two lengths in ‘The Sundon.’

“She’s probably going to trial in two to three weeks time. We’ll just look at the spring features with her. Hopefully everything goes smoothly,” Williamson said.

Likely targets are the Southern Trotting Oaks in September and the New Zealand Trotting Oaks in November.

Another Nathan Williamson horse, Secret Agent Man (Sweet Lou) is getting ready to resume after last racing at Addington on Show Day last year.

“He’s probably one or two weeks off trialling. He’s come back from another injury after breaking a bone in his leg on Show Day and has trained down good. He seems well.”

Out of ten starts, the gelded son of classy mare Carabella has had four wins and three seconds.

Meanwhile trotting mare Clotilde Wainwright (Majestic Son) also trained by Williamson, won’t be spotted at the races until next year, therefore missing her entire five year old season.

“She had a bone injury to one of her knees. She underwent some treatment and is having a break. She’ll resume work towards the end of the year.”

Clotilde Wainwright last raced at Gore on 27^th December and has won four of her eleven starts, including an impressive win in a  Group Three Mares race at Ashburton last season, which she took out by five and a half lengths over 1700 metres in a mile rate of 1-57.0.

The talented but injury plagued pacer Hijack (Courage Under Fire) won’t race again.

After qualifying for Winton trainer Chelsea Faithful, Hijack was sold to Australia. Trained by Michael Hawke, the gelding had five starts in 2024 but didn’t win a race. He last raced in December 2024 in Canberra before disappearing from the radar.

Faithful approached owner Mick Boots to see whether he’d be interested in returning the gelding to her stable and a deal was done.

The horse made a surprise return to the racetrack at Winton at the end of June where he won, but unfortunately he’s suffered another injury and has been retired.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink