Racing: Star trotter pleases in return after long layoff

One Over Kenny wins the 2009 Rowe Cup. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Trotting's sweetheart is on the verge of a glorious comeback judging by her first public performance in more than a year yesterday.

One Over Kenny strode out in anger for one of the first times since winning the Rowe Cup on May 1 last year when she easily downed two rivals at the Pukekohe workouts yesterday.

While she was expected to account for inferior rivals and her sectional times were nothing special, trainer-driver Tony Herlihy liked how the great mare felt.

"She has been feeling really good in her work at home and felt very comfortable today," said Herlihy.

So much so, he says the 9-year-old has every chance of returning to her best form, especially after such an easy last 16 months.

One Over Kenny missed the whole of last season after developing a quarter crack on the eve of her return to racing and with her and arch-rival Stig sidelined the open class trotting ranks were hard to get excited about.

Trouble has already struck Stig again and he looks set to struggle to get back to the races with his leg problems flaring up even before he started fast work.

So that leaves One Over Kenny as our best trotter and the one young challengers like Raydon, I Can Doosit, Ray and Sovereignty have to catch.

She is already New Zealand's only millionaire trotting mare and only our third trotter past that mark, after Lyell Creek and Take A Moment.

The daughter of Sundon has won 31 of her 58 starts for $1,085,187 in stakes.

While Herlihy conservatively says he expects her "to be able to earn" again this season, the reality is with the open-class ranks still lacking another champion, One Over Kenny would be the early favourite for any race she doesn't have to meet Aussie foe Sundon's Gift in.

Herlihy will trial the mare again in two weeks with a view to racing her at Alexandra Park in mid September.

"Then we will look at the races down south, like the Flying Mile and the Dominion, but they are still a long way away."Bob Butt might not be flavour of the month at tea break this morning.

The young Canterbury horseman could usually have been excused for feeling pretty satisfied after reining Western Flare, trained by his parents David and Catherine, to win at Addington yesterday.

The only problem is he downed stablemate Tony Dreaver, driven by his father who was looking for his 1000th driving success in New Zealand.

David Butt has been set to join the elite club for the past six weeks but has been stranded on 999 wins, reining two seconds yesterday.

He surged to the lead on Tony Dreaver with a lap to go yesterday but was outfinished by his son up the passing lane.

"The way things are going I might not get there until cup week," joked David Butt.

Veteran Auckland harness racing trainer Bert Clapham died on Monday night.

The 79-year-old tasted success with pacers such as Caprock Creek and Salute Rufus in recent years but also played a role in the early development of Aussie champion Village Kid.

Clapham was also known as one of racing's most colourful characters of the illegal bookmaking days, often regaling anybody who would listen with stories of his run-ins with racing officials and police.

ONE OF A KIND

*One Over Kenny returned to the workouts yesterday.

*The millionaire mare hasn't raced since winning the Rowe Cup more than 17 months ago.

*David Butt remains stuck on 999 career driving wins after two seconds at Addington yesterday.

*Veteran Auckland trainer Bert Clapham dies.