Mister opens them up in Gold Chip Final

Bruce Stewart Journalist

It was a case of handlebars down and catch me if you can tactics for Mister (Father Patrick) in todays Wyndham Workouts Committee Gold Chip Final at Gore.

Mister began brilliantly for driver Wilson House and soon opened up a massive margin on his rivals.

“Ever since I’ve had him he’s been one of the first away. I told him to go early and take a wee breather. He was going to drive him like that anyway,” trainer Craig Buchan said after his five year old trotter won by two and a half lengths from Rondo Trouble with a further six and a half lengths back to Della’s Fella in third.

The lightly tried Mister was initially trained by Chris Butt with the switch to the Buchan stable happening late last year.

“He always looked as though he had the ability when Chris had him. They wanted to change things and do something different so I rang up and asked to lease him. I’ve tried a whole lot of bits on him and finally found one he likes. It’s just a straight bit but it’s an older type. He just appreciates it.”

He’s had sixteen starts for Buchan for three wins, two seconds and two thirds.

Meanwhile Beach Day (Sunshine Beach) did the right thing for the Hunter family when he narrowly won the Hunter Family Handicap, beating Dreams Are Free by a nose.

The six year old mare owned by Greg and Vicki Hunter is trained at Wyndham by Craig Ferguson and was driven by Mark Hurrell.

Gore trainer Tony Stratford and main stable driver Blair Orange had a day to remember winning three races – Van Liberty, La Dama and Leithen Louie.

Leithen Louie was the most impressive, clearing out to beat a handy field by three and a half lengths in a smart 2-39.5.