Unloaded wins South Of The Waitaki Final

[Wandering Eyes]

Southland pacer Unloaded unloaded everything he had to win the South Of The Waitaki Series final on a big night for the Hunter family at Addington on Friday night.

The Peter Hunter trained 4yr-old dug deep to hold off a late rally from The Croupier to win the 2600m feature by a head.

Hunter said he was impressed with the tenacity Unloaded showed to cap his brilliant series with a hat-trick of wins. 

“He put it all out there.”

“The horse really had to put it all on the line.”

“He probably wasn’t as good as he has been, but he has had four races in a row.”

“It has been a great series for a horse like that, where he can race every week.”

Peter and his brothers Hamish and Henderson could all be credited with wins at the Addington meeting.

Hamish produced Iwanadancewitsumbody to win in rating 40-55 company.

The 4yr-old burst along the passing lane with a late finish to score for driver Matthew Williamson.

Henderson has looking after Unloaded while he has been in Canterbury for the South Of The Waitaki Series.

The horse had been in more than capable hands with the New Zealand Cup winning reinsman, Hunter said.

“Its never a problem leaving one with Hender – he is a very, very underrated that fellow.”

The only problem Hunter may have with Unloaded is where to line him up next.

The Mach Three pacer’s hat-trick of wins have seen his rating shoot skyward.

Hunter will formulate a plan for the horse after Unloaded enjoys a spell.

“He is going to come home for a spell.”

“He will have a break and then let the dust settle.”

“He will probably have a high rating – in the 70s – so, I don’t even want to go there at the moment.”

The Croupier rallied hard to set up an exciting finish with Unloaded.

Duke of Dundee was a further one and three quarter lengths behind them in third.

Southland could possibly claim another of the feature race successes at Addington on Friday night.

Southland born and bred driver Mark Hurrell made it back to back wins in the Darren DeFilippi Memorial Trot with Never Mind.

Hurrell got his second consecutive win in the sought after race in identical  circumstances to his victory with Redwood Invasion, last year.

The reinsman had the Trent Yesberg trained trotter in front throughout and 5yr-old held on to win by three-quarters of a length.

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