Dewe breaks the drought

Bruce Stewart Contributor

After a quiet start to the new season Ascot Park harness racing trainer Tyler Dewe finally got on the board with South Seas Rock (A Rocknroll Dance) scoring a well deserved win at the Wairio Trotting Club meeting at Winton today.

Prior to today’s win Dewes last win was with the same horse on Cup Day in December last year.

“It’s been getting to me a wee bit. We’re quarter of the way through the season and we’ve been thereabouts but haven’t got one across the line,” Dewe said.

Shortly after the 2400 metre mobile dispatch, driver Hayden Douglas took South Seas Rock to the front. The five year old was always travelling like a winner and with no real pressure he held on to win by a length and a quarter from the trailing horse Bowlem Over.

“This is how he races best, in front or parked. In his races for me he’s led three times and won twice and has sat parked three times and he ran second in all three of those starts. He does go better up on the pace.”

South Seas Rock warming up at Wairio Bruce Stewart Photo

Noticeably South Seas Rock was on a tight rein for most of the trip.

“He can get like that but that’s just him and he’s just in a really good head space. It’s not that he’s over-racing, he’s just wanting to go. He was beautifully rated today in 57 (800 metres) 28.4 (400 metres) and 2-58 (overall time).”

South Seas Rock winning at the Wairio Meeting Bruce Stewart Photo

Today’s win was penalty free so South Seas Rock stays in the same grade for his next start.

“He’s still a rating 58 horse and we may keep Hayden on now for half rating points. We just have to weigh it up. Another win won’t be too far away.”

Today’s win was the second in Douglas’s first season of driving.