Henry Hubert develops his game in Superstars win

[Chief Stipe]

Henry Hubert wins in a driving finish over Thefixer, Hail Christian and A G’s White Socks. Photo: Race Images.

Henry Hubert added another weapon to his already impressive arsenal when winning a highly exciting running of the Superstars Championship at Addington on Friday night.

The Robert Dunn trained pacer was saved for a cold shot at the star-studded field that contested the 1980m group 2 feature.

Those tactics paid off for driver John Dunn when the four-year-old dashed along the passing lane to grab the very brave runner-up, Thefixer.

Showing he can sit off and reel in some of the best horses in New Zealand gives Henry Hubert a full repertoire to use in next month’s Easter Cup.

“He seems to have a few strings to his bow now, he is really learning the art of being a racehorse,” Robert Dunn said.

“He has been the real improver for the season, it has been great that he has been able to do that and he seems to still be getting better, too.”

Henry Hubert scored in the scintillating time of 2.21.3, a mile-rate of 1.54.8.

The early race tempo that set up that time was due to Jack’s Legend and Alta Maestro having a good battle for the lead.

The pair did not let up their on-speed battle down the back straight, which meant for hard work for Thefixer, who was attempting to work in to the race three-wide from the 1300m.

The New Zealand Cup winning pacer did not let that huge amount of work stop him from challenging in the home straight.

After being pushed four-wide at the 400m, Thefixer battled on resolutely to finish second by just half a length in a driving finish

Hail Christian ran a big race in his first start back from an Australian campaign, when tracking Thefixer from the 400m, before peeling out to run third.

A G’s White Socks, who had a perfect run in the one-one throughout, faded in to fourth after looking the winner early in the run home.

Driver Ricky May reported to stewards his sulky sustained a flat tyre on the home bend.

The Robert Dunn stable enjoyed a brilliant night out at Addington, taking out the two-year-old trot with One Majic Kenny and the feature trot with Sundee’s Sun.

One Majic Kenny was on his best behaviour when winning at Addington on Friday night. Photo: Race Images.

Dunn said he was impressed with the way One Majic Kenny handled himself while horses were going off stride all around him.

“He threw his head up a couple of times in the back straight, the pace was on and off a little bit.”

“And he started from the second line and there was carnage all around him, so it was a great run.”

Dunn hoped that One Majic Kenny would measure up the best horses in the country in the upcoming juvenile trotting features.

“He has got really high speed and he is a nice moving trotter.”

“We have just got to get him to settle a little bit better, Johnny said he was a bit keen tonight.”

The Robert and John Dunn training and driving combination sealed a brilliant night out when Sundee’s Sun bolted in in Friday night’s trotting free-for-all.

After leading, the four-year-old left a classy field in his wake, when clearing out to win by more than seven-lengths.

Speeding Spur was the best of the rest, running home strongly from the rear of the field to run second, in what looked a good hit-out before next week’s New Zealand Trotting Championship.

 

Sundees Son won by more than seven lengths at Addington on Friday Night. Photo: Race Images.

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