By Michael Guerin
Tarragindi is so good trotting trainer Phil Williamson is putting his money where his mouth is.
And that means the easy Friday night winner from Addington will be in the $500,000 Ascent at Addington on Show Day.
The three-year-old made it four wins in nine starts with a 57.9 second last 800m to bolt away by four lengths on Friday, suggesting he is getting better with every run.
He didn’t need that win to convince Williamson and wife Bev, who owns Tarragindi, he deserves a shot at the trot slot race as they had already agreed to pay the $30,000 to be in the big dance.
Tarragindi got within a head of the clear star of last season’s juvenile crop in Meant To Be last year and Williamson is certain he has a better horse on his hands this year.
“He did a big job last year because he was taking on Meant To Be at only our second and third starts,” says Williamson.
“I am not saying we will beat him but I think we can give him a run for his money so we decided to buy a slot and are excited about it.
“And he has the NZ Trotting Derby too to aim at so he has some really good races coming up.
“He is definitely my next good horse.”
While Tarragindi was red hot on his way to winning, the stakes feature of the night at Addington could hardly have been more different as Berrettini won the Woodlands Stud Harness 7000 race at 50-1.
Trained by John “Coaster” Howe he was patiently driven by Robbie Close and prevailed in a punishing finish after early tempo saw the undoing of the leaders, including hot favourite Tact Teva.
It was Berrettini’s third win from eight starts for breeders and owners, popular Canterbury couple Phil and Christine Smith.
That capped a great recent run for the Smiths, including an Addington double last month with Berrettini and Cormoran Strike.
“Coaster and I had a plan, because he was stepping up in class, to drive him quietly but I said to him before the race, stranger things have happened,” said Close.
“But all the credit has to go to him and it is great for the owners who have put so much into the game.”
While Tact Teva had a rugged night at the office his stablemate Bettors Anvil returned with a blazing win a race earlier.
He sat back off a good speed and went like the very good three-year-old he is to round up his older rivals easily.
“He will be in all the good races from now on and they are going to be really exciting because you have Marketplace and some real depth around him.”
But perhaps the training performance of the night went to Bob Butt after Dynasty sprinted hard to win the $25,000 Woodlands Second Mares Sprint.
She was fresh up for over two months and had all the favourites in front of her starting the last 400m yet exploded to win like a future Group 1 mare and suggest the coming mares series races are going to be spectacular.
