Double Time’s double dividend

Double Time certainly lived up to its name on the grass track at Waterlea Racecourse over the weekend, going back-to-back in the Marlborough Harness Racing Club feature races.

Piloted on both days by ace reinsman John Dunn, Double Time took out the Marlborough Cup Prelude on Friday, then backed it up with an even more emphatic win in Sunday’s Marlborough Pacing Cup.

The four-year-old brown gelding, trained by Robert and Jenna Dunn at Woodend Beach, won over 2400m on day one and then prevailed over 2850m two days later.

Second in the Marlborough Cup was Homebush Lad, driven by Samantha Ottley, with Lester, piloted by Kimberly Butt, third.

Punters at the annual two-day meeting, the only race meeting on the Blenheim course’s calendar, basked in the sun on both days, with some hefty dividends available to those who were canny enough to predict them.

John Dunn led the drivers’ stakes picking up four wins over the two days, with Sam Thornley and Samatha Ottley close behind on three. The training stables of Robert and Jenna Dunn, Tom Bamford and Mark Jones each claimed three wins.

Local trainer Tony Thomas scored a win for owner David Sim, when Just Ask Paddy got up to win race nine on Friday, albeit in a spectacular finish when the winner stumbled and fell immediately after crossing the finish line. Neither driver Gemma Thornley nor the horse was injured.