Big brother showed Merlin how it is done just a day out from New Zealand’s richest harness race.
In slightly quieter surrounds to tonight’s Night Of Champions at Cambridge, Durrant ran to career win number eight at Ascot Park yesterday for trainer Ross Hope and driver Nathan Williamson.
After facing trickier draws in his recent starts, Durrant made full use of barrier 4 when Williamson found him a perfect trip in the trail, turning around an unlucky last start effort at Winton.
"I think he has been going pretty well right the way through, but he hasn’t always had the luck go his way," Hope said.
Both Merlin and Durrant are by Art Major from Imaginary Bet, who was crowned New Zealand’s pacing broodmare of the year at this year’s national harness racing awards.
While Durrant has not competed at the same level as Merlin, he has delivered Hope and his wife Dianne plenty of thrills.
"He’s done a great job for us. When young Carter Dalgety won on him he liked him. He’s just an old gentleman."
There are no surprises around who the Hope camp will be cheering for in the $1 million The Race by Betcha.
"I think Merlin can do it, but it will be hard up against the Aussies who are seasoned with all the hard racing they’ve had," Hope said.
Another of Imaginary Bet’s progeny will be in action in Southland tonight. Group 1-winning Captains Mistress, a half-sister to Merlin and Durrant, will take a step back towards the races when trialling at Winton.
Trainer-driver Williamson is targeting a heat of the Sires Stakes Series at Addington next week with New Zealand’s reigning 2yr-old pacing filly of the year.
Captains Mistress’ full brother Magician has not been sighted since his win at Ascot Park on group 1 Invercargill Cup Day after sustaining a minor injury in Auckland.
