By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
As the in-form Jake heads back to Motukarara on Sunday, owner/breeder Grahame Scurr is hoping his golden run is far from over.
The Bettor’s Delight eight-year-old has won two of his last three starts and is gunning for career win number six in the Clubs NZ Race Days January and February 2026 Pace (Race 7, 3.05pm).
“He is just jumping out of his skin,” says Scurr, “he’s absolutely thriving.”
Now 74, the retired poultry farmer has been involved in racing for more than half a century.
“I’ve had horses since I was 17 or 18 – mainly shares with my father.”
And Jake has provided him with two of his highlights.
“There was one day at Oamaru (March 2021) when he was 11 wide turning for home and he got up to win and then his last win at Methven (September 7) when he sat parked and still ran away.”
“There are two of the best moments.”
But it hasn’t been all plain sailing. It was an incident with Jake at his property at Lincoln around four months ago that saw him hospitalised.
“I’ve got Parkinsons and I am a bit slow and I was between the cart and a wall and he backed up on me and he crushed four of my vertebrae.”
He didn’t have surgery but spent four weeks in hospital and many more recovering.
“I’m still bloody hopeless,” he says.
Over the years Scurr’s trained four winners – Life’s Exciting at Rangiora in 2010, K C Monet at Addington in 2013, and two with Oursue in 2011.
Jake is Oursue’s second foal and was initially trained by Dean Taylor, debuting in 2019.
“He won three for Dean and he went in the wind and had an operation,” says Scurr, “so we just brought him home and put him aside.”
Scurr then planned to train the horse himself.
“I can’t tell how many hours I jogged him behind my old car in the paddock and had him going alright.”
But Scurr then injured his hand, prompting him to literally pass the reins to Coes Ford-based trainer Ross Cameron.
After being away from racing for 1281 days (from December 2021) Jake returned to the races at Addington in June this year.
He’s since had nine starts (and two wins).
On Sunday Jake returns to Motukarara. He hasn’t won there before but does have an excellent grass track record with three wins and two placings.
He faces a field that includes Ideal Conqueror who’s won his last two starts for Jonny Cox and the in-form pairing of Treasure Cove and Quicker Than Quick though Scurr is as confident as he can be.
“He’s the best he’s ever been”.
Jake is currently at $14, with Treasure Cove at $3, Quicker Than Quick at $5 and Nasana at $7.
The race is due to go at 3.05pm.
