Records tumble at Gore

Bruce Stewart Contributor

Five track records were broken yesterday on the newly resurfaced Gore harness racing track.

Sand Wave’s winning time of 3-18.7 in the Gore Cup was a new track record, beating Pulp Fiction’s 2015 record of 3-20.9.

Sand Wave winning at Gore (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Andy Halls time of 3-26.9 lowered Raymauwarrhen Sun’s 2007 mark of 3-30.3.

Andy Hall after his record breaking Gore win (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Sagwitch set a new track record for the 2200 metre mobile. His 2-39.2 bettered Art Union’s previous record of 2-40.7 set in 2015.

The 2-02.8 winning time of Sky Fawkes was a new three year old fillies record for the 1700 metre mobile. The previous record of 2-03.9 was set by The Shakey Mistress in 2013.

Sky Fawkes breaking a track record at Gore yesterday (Bruce Stewart Photo)

In winning yesterday, Dwindle Star beat her mother Dwindle Mist’s previous 2700 metre stand record for four year old and older mares. Dwindle Mist’s time set in 2014 was 3-28.9 while her daughter trotted the distance in 3-26.1.

Dwindle Star breaking a track record (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Rory McIlwrick’s win yesterday on Dwindle Star was his 200^th.

Rory with Bev Williamson and Dwindle Star (Bruce Stewart Photo)

His first winner was Tactical Attraction for Ron McEwan and Julie Ewan-Franks at Ascot Park in December 2011.

He’s driven twenty two winners for Graeme Anderson, fourteen for Owen Lawrence and Carol Graham and thirteen apiece for Tyler Dewe and Craig Laurenson.

He won the 2017 New Zealand Junior Drivers Premiership with thirty nine winners.

One hundred and thirteen of his wins were as a junior.

Junior driver Kerryn Tomlinson notched up her 40^th driving win when reining home first starter Makaku in the first race at Gore yesterday.

Kerryn Tomlinson winning her 40th race (Bruce Stewart Photo)

John Morrison’s win with Ballygar was his 30^th training win.

John Morrison getting win number 30 as a trainer (Bruce Stewart Photo)

The Otago and Southland Trainers and Driver’s Premierships were also wrapped up yesterday.

Southland:

• Southland Driver: Nathan Williamson 58, Craig Ferguson 48, Mark Hurrell 40
• Southland Trainer: Nathan Williamson 36, Craig Ferguson 34, Kirstin Green 22, Brett Gray 22
• Southland Junior Driver: Mark Hurrell 20, Tom Nally 11, Ollie Kite 9
• Leading Southland trained horses: Smokin Bandar $75,100, Wag Star $56,438, Julie Jaccka $50,016
• Leading two year old: Raklou $40,975
• Leading three year old: Wag Star $56,438

Otago:

• Otago Driver: Matty Williamson 62, Brad Williamson 31, Kerryn Tomlinson 30
• Otago Trainer: Phil Williamson 40, Matty Williamson 18, Brad Williamson 17.
• Otago Junior Driver: Kerryn Tomlinson 30
• Leading Otago trained horses: Love N The Port $175,575, Jimmy Carter $86,356, Majestic Man $70,138
• Leading two year old: Empire City $108,338
• Leading three year old: Isolate $51,088