Trainer-driver Ray Walters was back in the winner’s stall with Stoneridge at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.
Not popular with the majority of punters, Stoneridge ($22.80) scored a half neck win in the Lion Dairy Products Pace (1800m) holding off Little Jasper ($4.30) with Missurquhart ($76.10) a head away third.
Walters is an avowed lover of harness racing but has tended to drift in and out of the sport depending on his work commitments.
“I retired late last year so now want to have one or two horses in work and treat it as a hobby,” Walters said.
Hs first involvement was the sport was at the end of the Wayville circuit and early days of Globe Derby Park in the late 70s and early 80s coming up with the young stars such as Ross Sugars and Geoff Webster.
“They were good days and it was great to see good crowds at the trots,” Walters said.
Walters has proved with Stoneridge that he still has the knowledge and ability to prepare a winner.
The four-year-old was having only his second start for Walters after being purchased from trainer Shane Young.
“Shane is a very good friend of mine and decided to have a bit of a break and offered me Stoneridge which I accepted.”
The gelding finished a good second to Nikki Duzit on January 16 and coming from gate two on Saturday night was drawn to run a prominent race again.
Big Bad Bazza from gate three came out quickly on Saturday night and notched 29.1 and 30.8 first quarters rolling along in front clearly with Stoneridge second.
“When the leader started to stop with about 500 metres to go I had to make sure to get off the fence to not find myself in a pocket,” Walters said.
In coming off, Walters also allowed Matthew Smith on Little Jasper, which was on his back, to also follow through and come out to challenge.
Stoneridge sprinted 30.9 and 30.2 final quarters to hold on and win from Little Jasper which had the length of the straight to try and run down the winner.
