Dexter Dunn leaves mark at Ascot

BY JAMIE SEARLE

He and his brother John won the teams' section for Canterbury in the Provincial Drivers' Championship at the Invercargill Harness Racing Club meeting.

Between them, the brothers drove three winners in the five-race championship. Dexter, the championship's top driver, earned 25 points with winners Coolmaine and Shard Ark and third-placed Marcus Aurelius.

Shard Ark was not extended to win the Woodlands Stud Home of Bettor's Delight Pace.

''He won that pretty easy,'' Dunn said.

Tisbury trainers Tom Kilkelly and Tracee Sherborne plan to start Shard Ark in a New Zealand Yearling Sales Final at Alexandra Park on December 31

Stirling Point, driven by John Dunn, won the fourth championship race, the Bettor's Delight@Woodlands Stud Pace.

''He's a bit dumb and green, but feels like he's got a big motor,'' Dunn said of Stirling Point.

Southern Harness Racing's promotions officer Lindsay Beer said the championship created interest nationally.

''It's good to have guys of this calibre battling it out - the finishes have been brilliant.''

 Dexter Dunn and Mark Jones won the teams' section for Canterbury at last year's championship.

Coolmaine won the American Ideal Lexington Salestopper Trot at his second start for Waimumu trainer Billy Heads. The Sundon gelding ran second at Wyndham eight days ago.

The 42 starts Coolmaine had for Christchurch trainer Mike de Filippi produced four wins.

Heads shares Coolmaine's ownership with Dan Stafford, of Waikouaiti. Stafford part-owns She Sells Sea Shells (five wins) in de Filippi's stable.

''Dan rang up six weeks ago asking if I'd have a go with him (Coolmaine),'' Heads said. 

Andbar, driven by Nathan Williamson, landed a penalty-free maiden win in the first championship race, the Woodlands Stud Home of American Ideal.

Winton trainer Ian Wilson and wife Joyce own Andbar, a five-year-old Washington VC gelding who is getting better with every start.

As a three-year-old Andbar ricked a joint and last season, he  chipped a pedal bone.

One of the Central Districts drivers, Scott Dickson, reined Bud to victory in the Highview Tommy-Bettor's Strike Pace.

Adding pull down blinds made a difference, Waimumu trainer Ken McRae said. 

Dickson moved from Mid Canterbury to Marton about two years ago. He is a sharemilker with 200 cows.

He also trains 10 horses on a 600m track and makes occasional trips to the Manawatu Raceway, in Palmerston North, for speed training.

- © Fairfax NZ News