Electric Ollie was rewarded for a strong run of spring form, taking out the $10,400 Metalcorp NZ Ltd Young At Heart Series Final at Addington on Friday, September 6, in the presence of Melbourne owners, Merv and Meg Butterworth.
“It was good they were here to see him,” said trainer Mark Jones.
Melbourne owners, Meg and Merv Butterworth.
Electric Ollie, a 6YO Washington VC gelding from Relentless Lady, added the final to dual heat wins in the series for 6YO or older pacers.
He took his record to six wins and six placings from 36 starts, for $29,441, with the Series Final win.
“It was a good series for the horse, but he might be hard to place now.”
“He’ll probably have a couple of starts and we’ll just see how he handles it before deciding what we’ll do with him,” he said.
“He’s going good. Even in his second-to-last start he went good in the 3-5 win race (fifth behind Blazin N Cullen, Pay Me Cullen, Comply Or Die and Instead Of).”
Electric Ollie didn’t have it easy again from the eight gate in the final, but was once again well rated by Blair Orange.
Eased out of the early rush, “Ollie” was on the three wide train over his last mile in 1:59, improving to parked at the 600m, then running past pacemaker Simon Sivad in the straight to score by 3/4 of a length.
Blair didn’t have to turn the whip, getting him home comfortably with a reins drive over the leaders last 800m in 57.1s and final 400m in 27.8s.
Stablemate Fair Dinkum Bromac rolled forward to be parked at the 1300m, then after trailing the winner from the 600m was soon beaten.
Earlier on the programme, Holme Fire showed improvement in the opener, the Addington’s Spectators Bar & Bistro Open Soon Mobile Pace, being outfinished late by former Group One-winning juvenile Onlyforyou.
Holme Fire was given every chance from the trail by Mark but couldn’t withstand the storming late finish wide from the winner. who rated 1:59.2 (1950m), the leaders running their last 800m in 57.6s.