Team Teal close to $25,000

[Wandering Eyes]

With the campaign finishing yesterday, Team Teal is likely to reach close to $25,000.

Right now the figure stands at $23,495, with the final tally-up yet to be completed.

With Wingatui’s four race card all being won by female drivers and Mikalya Lewis, Olivia Thornley and Jessica Young-Grant winning at Motukarara the final day of the campaign was a good one.

The annual campaign, which raises money for ovarian cancer research, started on February 1 with money going to the cause every time a female driver wins a race through contributions from HRNZ, clubs and the drivers’ individual sponsors. Funds raised support the Research Nurse Grant Program and the Survivors Teaching Students Program in New Zealand. 

There were 79 wins by female drivers during the six-week campaign with Sam Ottley leading the way with 16, from Crystal Hackett (13) and Sheree Tomlinson (9).

A total of $500 was also raised at Motukarara through the first running of the Teal Trot where Sam Ottley, Riley Harrison, Sheree Tomlinson, Devon Dolan and Gemma Thornley ran 50m down the straight pulling someone (who had bid on them via silent auction) in the sulky. Ottley and her bidder Megan Swain took the honours.

For anyone wanting to donate and help push the total to $25,000 please click here 
 

The second annual Frocks at the Trots competition was held as part of a Team Teal fund-raiser at Addington Raceway on Friday night.

Heats were held in recent weeks with the best dressed making the finals. Julie Argyle was judged best overall, from Pauline Pattullo and Eleanor Campbell. Janet Bramham won the Contemporary award, with the Millinery award going to Jewel Relatado.

House party at Banks Peninsula 

By Mike Love 

The domination of Michael House and driver Wilson House continued at Banks Peninsula yesterday where they won two races to maintain their early season advantage on the trainers’ premiership ladder. 

In Race 6, the Crate & Barrel, Alpine Inn Hanmer, Mark Tweedy Pace, Miracle Memphis just held out Elektra King. The three-year-old Bettors Delight gelding was huge after scrambling away from the standing start, before catching the field and overpowering his rivals to win by a head, with a hefty ten length margin back to third. 

The win gave Miracle Memphis his first from five starts, which also includes three placings.  

The second winner on the programme came instantly in Race 7, the Lake Kaniere Sporting Club and Casino Trot with four-year-old Trixton mare Mode. Beginning well from her draw of six, Mode and House ended up sitting parked the entire trip. Up the long straight and Mode showed how gritty she can be, trotting determinedly to the line, winning by a neck from Transtasman Bubble.  

“We were quite unlucky with her first start for us at Palmerston North. She was in against some decent horses, and we knew going forward there were going to be some more nominations for the second day. But then we were leaping a couple of shadows around that small track (on the second day),” said Wilson House.   

The win made it Mode’s second career win from 25 starts, at start number three for the House team. She paid $16.90 for the win. 

“She was really good today, and trotted really well so it worked out nice.” 

The House team currently have 41 winners this season – 21 ahead of Steve and Amanda Telfer (20). Wilson House maintains his lead in the Junior Drivers Premiership with 30, five clear of Harrison Orange.

House is second overall in the country, with seven time premiership winner Blair Orange leading the way with 44. Orange is now on 2899 career wins. 

Other highlights on the card included a driving double for Robbie Holmes (Dragonhill and The Mandalorian), a training double for Bruce Negus (Classie Linc and Buffy Northstains).

 

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