Homebush is all class on grass

Bruce Stewart Contributor

Aged harness racing pacer Homebush Lad (Mach Three) seems to grow another leg on grass. His win today in the $20,000 Temuka Transport Waikouaiti Pacers Cup at Oamaru was his thirteenth on the grass and his fifteenth career win.

“When he’s on song there’s probably no better grass track horse around. He’s a ten year old but you wouldn’t know it. Someone told me they ran 57 off the front and he was giving them a few lengths. He’s a super grass track horse,” driver Ben Hope said.

Hope rightly points out that the final of the Country Cup Series is held on the grit, whilst most of the qualifying races are on the grass.

“It’s a shame they don’t have the final on the grass because I think he’d be very competitive at his best. I know the final would get a better field and get some of those horses working their way through to Cup class but a final on grass would reward those horses that go in all the Country Cup races on the grass.”

Homebush Lad Bruce Stewart Photo

The Greg and Nina Hope trained pacer’s record on the Oamaru grass track is close to perfect. In six starts he’s won three and has been placed a further two times.

With plenty of early pace on, Ben had Homebush Lad travelling sweetly off the inside running line today. He presented the gelding at the top of the straight and finished too well to beat One Change by a neck, with favourite Got You Covered half a length back in third.

Owned by Adeline Smith, Homebush Lad commenced his career with David and Catherine Butt who won two races with him. He then had a two race stint with Stephen Doody before joining the Hopes in July 2019.

Ben has driven Homebush Lad in thirteen of his wins.

“To win that number of races on a horse is pretty cool but to do it on Lad is special because he tries really hard and always sticks his neck out. He has a will to win.”

Hope was unsure where Homebush Lad will start next, but after today’s win the horse will be handicapped another ten metres.

“We’ll just have to place him right.”