Lord Forbes sets record

BY JAMIE SEARLE

Lord Forbes' breathtaking win in the Wyndham Cup on Saturday made him the first to break 4min for 3200m in Southland.

His time of 3:58.6 carved 4.6sec off Tact Halsey's former open track record. Tact Halsey set his record in the 1996 Cup.

New Zealand record-holder Changeover created his mark of 3:56.4 in the 2008 NZ Cup at Addington.

Driver Matthew Williamson said Lord Forbes felt strong the whole way on Saturday. The pony-size pacer was left parked from the 1600m, led at the 400m and sprinted clear by five lengths.

"Coming off the back, he got right on it big time (hard on the bit)," Williamson said.

"He jogged it and I didn't turn the stick."

Lord Forbes is in the temporary care of Invercargill horseman Ray Faithful. The entire's trainer and part-owner, Gavin Forbes, is in Nelson after his son Danny was seriously injured in a car accident there eight days ago.

Gavin Forbes' partner, Rochelle Mathieson, who also shares in the ownership, was at Wyndham for the win.

Lord Forbes won the Cup at his 80th start. He has recorded 11 wins and $117,429 in four seasons of campaigning.

He ran a slick 3:9.2 (2600m mobile) when finishing second to Highview Tommy in a five to six wins event at Addington in November.

Faithful said Lord Forbes would be aimed at the $50,000 Invercargill Cup on March 20.

Winner Prince Harry broke Springbank Richard's 3200m trotters' track record in the Art Bloxham Horse Transport Handicap.

Trained and driven by Waikouaiti's Andrew Faulks, Prince Harry clocked 4:6.4 to eclipse Springbank Richard's mark by 0.7sec.

All of Prince Harry's nine wins have been for Faulks, who trains the Monarchy gelding for Oamaru real estate agent Gary Young.

The Rowe Cup in Auckland on May 7 might be an autumn goal for Prince Harry.

jamie.searle@stl.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News