CROFT BAY DELIVERS FOR MATT ANDERSON IN ADDINGTON JUNIOR PACE
Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones brought up his 44th training win for the season when Matt Anderson combined with Croft Bay for a strong C1 junior drivers win at Addington on Friday, May 27.
Croft Bay, an improving 4YO Lis Mara brother to 4-win 3YO filly Pat Campbell (1:59.3), and half-brother to Montana Falcon (1:53.2, Aust, 25 wins & $A167,376) and former Overport Lodge pacer McPocket (1:53.5, Aus, 10 wins & $A90,157) had to be good to win.
He is a fifth-line descendant of former smart 10-win mare 1978 NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes winner Classiebawn.
Croft Bay was sent to the unruly by starter Peter Lamb after rearing repeatedly when lining up in the Flair – For Ladies Advancing The Interests Of Racing Pace.
He paced away when the start was effected by was back ninth on settling and was shuffled to 11th before making a three wide run from just inside the 1400m mark.
After leading up the three-wide line, he improved to parked at the 1000m.
All Stars junior Matt Anderson let Croft Bay stride outside favourite Articulight when Vanhalem attacked three wide 650m out, turning the race into a staying affair.
Croft Bay strode clear at the 600m and although Happy As Larry loomed in chase turning for home, the Overport Lodge leader didn’t flinch in the run home, holding by a neck in 3:19.6 (2600m).
The leaders ran their last 800m in 58.6s but it was a survival of the fittest over the last 400m in 30.1s.
This was Croft Bay’s second win in eight starts in the colours of owner Simon Gilmore, and Matt Anderson’s 22nd driving win for the season.
Stablemate Anika Lindenny (Laura McKay) was checked out of the race at the start, but has a chance to bounce back from the inside draw in an amateur drivers race at Rangiora on Sunday.