Douglas gets first feature win

Hayden Douglas claimed his first feature race win when Always Be Batman (Always B Miki) took out the Listed $50,000 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales Aged Classic at Kaikoura today.

Formally trained by Hayden’s father Jeremy at Ascot Park in Invercargill and now trained by Robert and Jenna Dunn the win today didn’t come without a few anguish moments.

At the 1000 metres Always Be Batman was second last in the one out line with a wall of horses in front of him.

When the Steve and Amanda Telfer pair of Iron Brigade and Tact Teva improved three wide inside the last 800, Always Be Batman got on their back. Coming out of the last bend Tact Teva was going nowhere so Douglas had to hook Always Be Batman out three wide to make his run. Once balanced up Always Be Batman stormed home down centre track to beat Iron Brigade by three quarters of a length with pacemaker Secret Agent Man holding on for third a length and a quarter away.

“Yeah that was bloody super. I was thinking that I made a bit of a balls up not going in front of Johny (John Dunn driving Sacetas) but it all sort of worked out. He just had too much pace for them at the end,” Hayden said.

ALWAYS BE BATMAN REPLAY

The winning time was 2-57.4.

“We always thought he had a great engine. I’m just so socked for Paul (Wilson), Gary (Tippett) and Megan (Reidie). They’ve let me drive him even though he’s up here with Johny for the spring.”

It’s not the first time Always Be Batman has joined the Woodend Beach team of Robert and Jenna Dunn. He was domiciled there as a two year old when he won his first race.

The four year old has now won eight races and Douglas has been in the bike for seven of those wins.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink