Rory McIlwrick, the leading junior driver this season, notched his 100th on Thursday night at Forbury Park when he drove Och Aye The Noo.
McIlwrick drove Hopes And Dreams to win earlier in the night. He rated the trotter Och Aye The Noo well in front over 2700m and she lasted by half a head from favourite Brads Kenny in a blanket finish. It her first win for 21 months.
McIlwrick took Hopes And Dreams to the front at 1000m over 2200m after starting from the second row and she held on by three parts of a length.
Och Aye The Noo is trained at East Taieri by part-owner Martin Denton, a loyal supporter of McIlwrick. Denton has just been appointed the club representative on the board of management of the Forbury Park club.
He replaces Geoff Knight, who remains the vice-president. Trainer Graeme Anderson is back on the committee and Stephen Pulley, has also been co-opted to the committee.
McIlwrick (24) has won 26 races this season, 14 more than his nearest rival, Matt Anderson. It is equal to his best tally of last season.
McIlwrick stood down from driving in June when he reached a total of 74 wins in order to remain junior driver this season and pursue the premiership title.
A total of 75 wins would have elevated him to the ranks of open drivers. He drove his first winner, Tactical Attraction at Ascot Park in December, 2011.
Anderson, the trainer of Hopes And Dreams, also won with Bakari and Delighful Jay to give him a 100 per cent record for the meeting. The performance of Bakari was outstanding as he raced in the open over 2700m, hung in and went keenly.
Delightful Jay has another five weeks racing in her present campaign after clearing maiden ranks.
She was served by Washington VC on December 16 and she is permitted to race for 120 days from that date.
She was having her second start and first for Anderson when she overcame a second line draw. She improved to outside the leader at the 1000m in the 2200m (mobile) and drew clear in the run home.
Her owner Brian Anderton, who races the 4-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight – Jay’s Glen with the estate of Bryan Kennedy, is planning to return Delightful Jay to work after she has foaled.
“I will put her back in work after the foal is weaned,’’ said Anderton, also the co-breeder and operator of the White Robe Lodge thoroughbred breeding and training establishment at North Taieri.
Delightful Jay is a half sister to New Years Jay (by Washington VC) who won eight races and took a record of 1.54.6 for the same owners before she was mated with Bettor’s Delight, her last service on December 30.
The 9-year-old did not conceive and Anderton is toying with bringing her back into work.
Delightful Jay is the last of nine foals of Jay’s Glen, a Roydon Glen mare.
Dexter Dunn drove Bakari and Delightful Jay. He also won with Aveross Don and Expresso Martini. The 3-year-old trotter Aveross Don led for most of the way.
He is trained by Andrew Faulks for Dunedin breeders Ross and Averil Pettit. Aveross Don is he first foal of Earl Aveross, who did not raced due to injury.
She is by Earl from OK Aveross, who won seven, the first as a pacer. The OK Bye mare had only one surviving foal.
Rozzano won at her second start for Wyndham trainer – driver Craig Ferguson when she led all the way.
The 5-year-old Lis Mara mare was bought a month ago by Ferguson and Amanda Tomlinson (for daughter Sheree) from Peter Toomey. Rozzano had nine minor placings in 30 starts for Toomey.
The addition of blinds worked the oracle for Southern Lights, who was successful at his fourth start after racing wide. He is trained by Peter Hunter for Gary Preston, of Queenstown and the Fly Under The Radar syndicate.
The 3-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding is on lease from breeder Mandy Davis. Southern Lights is the first foal of Southern Sun, a Thunder N Lightning mare who won nine races, all in Southland.
Tayler Strong
