Moment Of What gets the gold

Bruce Stewart Contributor

Waikouaiti trained Moment Of What (What The Hill) capped off his good lead up form when he took out the Bill Keast Memorial Gold Chip Final today at the Riverton harness meeting at Winton.

Trained by Amber Hoffman and driven by Craig Ferguson the four year old gelding made light work of his twenty metre handicap, going down to the line to win by three lengths from favourite Del’s Creation.

Moments Of What winning at Winton (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Moment Of What had his early education with Wyndham trainers Gordon and Colin Lee who trained his dam Moment Of Sun (Sundon) to win six races.

“Gordon thought he might need some straight line training. He’s a lovely natured animal. It was just a matter of getting his gait right. He was a wee bit hitchy. He’s got a big motor so we just have to look after him a bit. He’s only going to get better and today he trotted quite nice, there wasn’t much of a hitch there. He’ll have a couple more starts and then have a freshener,” Hoffman said.

Moment Of What returning with Craig Ferguson (Bruce Stewart Photo)

The win was the gelding’s second in just eight starts and was a catch drive for Craig Ferguson after Matty Williamson couldn’t make the meeting, having driven in Auckland last night.

Meanwhile another consistent trotter Don’t Ask (Father Patrick) was rewarded today when she won her sixth race in the Winton Night ’N Day Handicap Trot.

Over her previous six starts she’d been runner up twice and placed third twice.

In a small field today the Alister Black trained mare was taken to the front by junior driver Kerryn Tomlinson and won easily by a length and a quarter from Julie Jaccka.

“It was a very well rated drive. They’ve only gone 3-12,” Black said.

Dont Ask is owned by Lindsay Thomson and with his involvement in the sport spanning more than thirty eight years, he’s honing in on 100 winners.

“I took her to Cup Week a few years ago and I reckon it was the worst thing I’ve ever done. It took her a long time to get over it and she was never the same again. At the time she was flying and I thought she was good enough to go. She’s good now and is racing solid. She’ll race on until the end of the winter, then I think she’ll retire and go to stud in the spring.”

Dont Ask returning at Winton with winning salute and smile (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Don’t Ask’s pedigree goes back to Rowe Cup winner Robyn Evander and includes Galleons Assassin (13 wins) and King Of Stratford (21).