President Roydon looks to be a trotter with untapped potential after an easy win at the Wyndham Harness Racing Club meeting at Cromwell today.

In the Osborne Engineering/Checketts McKay Law Handicap Trot driver Brent Barclay settled the three year old gelding three back on the inside. When Dream Big galloped with a lap to run he slotted President Roydon into the one one. At the 600 he launched his run and moved up beside the leader Majestic Peak. He'd reached the lead by the top of the straight and trotted home untouched to win by four and a half lengths.  

President Roydon is out of the two win Sundon mare Dear Diedre and is a half-brother to The Earth Moved (6 wins) and Duchess Dieret (5).  

He was bought by Merv and Meg Butterworth for $10,000 at the Sale of the Stars in 2015 and had his initial education at the Rolleston barn of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.

"He had a minor wind problem as a yearling but there's no problems now. He'll probably go back to Mark and Natalie's and end up in Australia," said trainer Brett Gray. 

By The Pres, President Roydon was having his second start today after breaking on debut at Gore when second favourite. His win dividend today was $33.40. 

"I was surprised at the price. He went out one of the favourites at his first start. He hasn't been to any workouts but we decided to start him after he worked well at the Winton track. He impressed me today because a couple of horses galloped round him and he could have gone out in sympathy but he didn't. He's got high speed." 

Trainer Brett Gray with President Roydon       – Photo Wayne Huddleston 

Although Gray knows that the three year old gelding won't be in the stable long term he realises that he plays an important part in servicing the Butterworth Racing Syndicate and the large number of horses they race on both sides of the Tasman. 

"Merv will let me know when he's ready to move on but we'll have a bit more playing around and get more miles into him."

Gray says he has three nice three year old trotters in his Ryal Bush barn including Smokey Mac and Jaccka Josh.

"He'll (Smokey Mac) start on Thursday. I have four or five nice trotters at the moment. Charlie (Smaill) is jogging up Jen Jaccka (the winner of four races and New Zealand record holder who is now five) and I like her half brother Jaccka Josh (Majestic Son – Janine Jaccka)."

Jaccka Josh started at the Invercargill trials last month and despite running under the qualifying time didn't get his qualifying ticket because he broke at the start.

Gray trained a nice three year old two season's ago called Sky Commander. He won three times for the stable and was good enough to run fifth in the New Zealand Trotting Derby won by Speeding Spur. He was then transferred to Kerryn Manning's stable in Australia where he's won another eight races. He ran second in the Victoria Trotting Derby in 2015. He was bought out of Southland by the Butterworth Racing Syndicate.

Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing