Mount Gambier horseman Steven Fennell celebrated a major career milestone on Tuesday night when Spook Crocker lunged late to deny harness racing stablemate Go Jack Crocker, delivering the 37-year-old his 100th training victory.

Fennell, who prepares his team from the Mount Gambier track and regularly campaigns across the South Australian–Victorian border, has made a flying start to the 2026 season. His consistency has him sitting inside the top five on the state trainers’ premiership, an impressive feat for a largely regional operation.

Driver Mark Phillips needed every bit of patience aboard Spook Crocker. Buried four back on the pegs for much of the trip, the son of Somebeachsomewhere only saw daylight approaching the 250-metre mark. Once clear, he unwound sharply—despite being forced five and six wide around the home bend—to reel in his stablemate in the shadows of the post.

The victory was Spook Crocker’s third since joining Fennell’s stable.

Both Spook Crocker and Go Jack Crocker race in the colours of Adelaide businessman Gary Crocker, who campaigns his horses under the Walk Proud banner, and former Mount Gambier club president Phil Wood.

SPOOK CROCKER REPLAY

Wood enjoyed a memorable double on the night when Another Woods, a first starter trained by Victorian Michael Barry, claimed race two.

Remarkably, Barry’s previous Mount Gambier winner came 26 years ago with Manwarra Achiever. Connections appear to have unearthed another promising type in Another Woods, a son of Restrepo out of the unraced BGS Folly mare Bee A Star.

Bee A Star hails from a deep family. Her grand-dam Hazel Hanover produced former top stallion Holmes Hanover, sire of Miracle Mile hero Holmes D G and the high-class Headline Hanover. Bee A Star also has a yearling filly by The Storm Inside still to come.

Mount Gambier’s next meeting is scheduled for March 6, featuring the heats of the Mount Gambier Gold Cup. The Cup Final headlines the club’s major program on Saturday, March 14, supported by the $11,000 Country Cup, the Trotters Cup, and the $10,000 Blue Lake Classic for three-year-olds.

by Gary Newton for Harnesslink