Harness racing broodmare Cochy Bondhu produced two winners today at Ascot Park.

Four year old Love You gelding Coppertone Lad won by eleven and a half lengths on debut and trainer Alan Paisley is confident about his future. He only qualified early last month, but he feels he will improve. 

"He'll get better with age. He just lacks a bit of speed at this stage but he's solid," he said.

Later in the programme his older sister Overcast won her sixth race. She's owned by Paisley and her breeder Kevin Schuck who owns Coppertone Lad outright. 

Schuck has been with Paisley since the early 2000s. He raced Chiola Hanover gelding Leonard which won four races before being sold to Australia.

Leonard's dam was the Paul Evander mare Elgin Princess which is the second dam of Cochy Bondhu. 

Breeder and owner Kevin Schuck standing at the head of Overcast.- Photo Bruce Stewart.

"She's (Overcast) always been honest. That's her – she's not brilliant. She's probably a touch below the better ones in Southland but she's consistent," said Paisley after Overcast's win.

Paisley was also quick to shake his farrier Kevin Campbell's hand after the win, knowing how important his job is when it comes to trotters.

"All my trotters don't touch a knee anywhere and it's a credit to this guy here." 

Campbell says the process is pretty straight forward. 

"Just leave a bit of foot on them. I've found over the years that they (other farriers) take too much hoof off underneath their feet,"  he said.

Overcast winning by four and three quarter lengths – Photo Bruce Stewart.

Later in the day at Methven, Over The Love, another of Cochy Bondhu's progeny raced. He looked decidedly unlucky when running tenth. The Barron stable that train him have a high opinion of the three year old who's paid up for a number of big three year old trotting races this season. 

"I always reckon they (the family) probably are better with age. They're not really young horses. That's why I think Coppertone Lad will improve because he doesn't really know what he's doing yet. I got him off Billy Heads and he just needed time. We had to put real heavy shoes on front to get him trotting. I also had to put boots on him every day even on the jogger just to give him confidence," says Paisley.  

An exciting season ahead for Kevin Schuck. 

Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing