Americans dictate in races at Invercargill

February 23, 2009

Drivers from the United States dominated from the front at Ascot Park in Invercargill on Feb. 22, in both the races designated as part of the five-raceday American/New Zealand Amateur Drivers series. Gregg Keidel driving Seldomgetit scored convincingly in the first of the 2200m mobile events while Boa Holmes with David Seigel in the sulky 'fell-in' to win the second contest.

Although the pair hold an amateur classification with regards their appearances as race-drivers, both are professionals in the industry. Keidell holds administrative positions at a couple of tracks in the States while Seigel operates a harness related IT business.

Seldomgetit, a six-year-old by Christian Cullen from Seldom Home went from the outside of the eight horse field in the first race and was three wide without cover on the first bend. Once in the back straight, Keidel kept her going forward. There were late challenges in the stretch from the trailler Jaccka Cruizin (Michelle Caig - New Zealand) and Fire Fighter (Steve Phillips - New Zealand) who occupied the one-one but Seldomgetit held by a length and a quarter.

According to Keidel, trainer Steve Lock had given him no confidence so the horse execeeded his expectations.

"I wasn't going to lead but she just kept going," he said.

Racing was held on a slushy track after a wet lead up but Keidel was complimentary about the track.

"They manager has done a good job, there wasn't a lot coming up from it, I've driven in worse conditions than that," said Keidel the Racing Manager for Northfield Park in Ohio and Hoosier Park in Indiana.

Boa Holmes, a five-year-old by Holmes Hanover from Belboa, went straight to the front from his three draw and Seigel, complete with a television camera mounted on his helmit and goggles that can be cleaned as he drives, kept him there.

The trailler Let's Split (Phillips) made what looked likely to be the winning run in the stretch but the camera showed they came up a nose short. Roman Empire (Bob Troyer - United States) sat parked but was unable to close, finishing a long neck back in third.

"It felt like I was rating him but I didn't have to think," Seigel said of Boa Holmes, "the horse did it by himself, he drove perfectly."

Seigel operates Trackmaster, a company that specialises in racing information. The United States leads the series that moves now to the Waikato thoroughbred racing track at Te Rapa.

Today's card also inclued a five horse saddle-pace, won by the four-year-old daughter of Christian Cullen and Flash Tactics, Tact Aunty. She led throughout the 1200m event with Winton licence-holder Kirsty Adams in the saddle and cut out the trip in 1:30.9. -- Mac Henry

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