Good two days for Hatton family

ADDINGTON-ORARI DOUBLE FOR HATTON-OWNED HORSES

It was a good two days last weekend for the Hatton family and Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, snaring a winning double with comeback trotter Eyre I Come at Addington on Friday, November 25, and a penalty-free C1 pacing win with Real Torque at Orari on Saturday, November 26.

Eyre I Come’s front-running win in the hands of Samantha Ottley at Addington on Friday was “big bonus” according to Mark, who felt he would be better with race.

“He’s a day-to-day horse so anything we get is a bonus. It was a good win fresh-up for so long and I just hope he stays sound,” he said.

Eyre I Come, a 6YO Majestic Son-Landoras Special gelding, raced by Grant Hatton along with Melbourne’s Merv and Meg Butterworth, was first-up since last racing in February.

He was able to capitalise after some of the favourites met early trouble.

However, Eyre I Come never looked like putting a foot wrong.

Settling third with a good start off the unruly off the 10m line, Samantha took him to the top with 1250m to run and he did enough to hold Tornado Valley, Little Mo and Twelve Monkeys, in a handy 3:21.6 for the 2600m.

Eyre I Come had enough in reserve to last by three-quarters of a length after running his last 800m in 58.4s and closing 400m in 28.9s.

This was just his 28th career start. He’s now won five and been six times placed for just over $65,000 in stakes.

The Hatton family were back in the winner’s enclosure at the Geraldine meeting on Saturday after Real Torque unleashed with a well-timed late finish to take out the C1 Turley Farms Mobile Pace for former Overport Lodge employee, Kimberly Butt.

Real Torque is raced by Grant Hatton’s wife Katherine, along with their daughters, Emma, Gina and Kate.

She enjoyed a good run three back on the outer until getting the shuffle up at the 900m.

Held up in heavy traffic turning for home, Kim was able to switch her wide for a winning run, wearing down Southland visitor No More Change by a neck.

Kimberly had previously partnered Real Torque for her first two late 2YO wins on a northern campaign in June, 2015.

Real Torque, now a 4YO Real Desire half-sister Statesman (1:50.4, US), Imperative (1:55.1, US), Monaro (1:58.5) and Calais (1:55.3, Aust), was racking up her fifth win from 25 starts, for just under $50,000.

She hinted a quick return to winning form after a good second to American Tart in a C1-2 premier mares pace at Addington on NZ Cup day.

“It was good for Grant Hatton and his family to win at Geraldine as he is kind of a local there. Also winning a $10k penalty-free race was great,” said Mark.

Mr Hatton, who won a Geraldine Cup in 2013 with top pacer Saveapatrol, was Temuka-born and raised but has always enjoyed attending and racing horses at Orari meetings.

Real Torque will now return for another Auckland campaign next month as Mark says she’s eligible for a money bags bonus at Alexandra Park.

Also joining Rocker Band in the northern team will be promising unraced juvenile The Bus, who will contest Young Gun racing, and Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Final contender Delightful Memphis.

The Bus, an Art Major colt, who like his older half-brother Saveapatrol is also raced by Mr Hatton, stepped up his fitness levels at the Rangiora workouts last Wednesday, winning a 2YO and unqualified mobile pace heat by four lengths in 2:32.8 (2000m), the last 800m in 56.5s and final 400m in 27.5s.

Meanwhile Delightful Memphis, winner of the opening Addington Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Heat, closed strongly for a 1 1/4 lengths second to Spanish Armada in last Friday’s third Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Heat at Addington.

Spanish Armada, from the three gate, worked to the front for co-trainer Natalie Rasmussen and rated 1:58.3 (1950m).

The All Stars stable-prepared Spanish Armada was unbeatable over her last 800m in front in 54.4s and closing 400m in a sizzling 26.1s.

By Jeff Scott