Jaccka Evan's return to form earns finals spot
The pacer will head into Southern Surge Finals Day at Gore in a fortnight after running to a monstrous win at Ascot Park yesterday for trainer Brett Gray and driver Dan Anderson.
Despite working hard in the running, Jaccka Evan powered away from his rivals to win in the fastest time of the day among the Southern Surge's 2200m heats.
"It wasn't the plan to drive him that way but we couldn't get into the running early and had to push forward," Anderson said.
"When Mr President came around I was happy to hand up parked to him but we were just travelling that good we had to keep going."
In running his 2min 41.7sec time, Jaccka Evan went faster than the higher-rated Southern Surge pacing heats.
The feeling among the Gray camp is that the pacer has always had the potential to produce such a performance.
"He raced some nice 3-year-olds early on but we had a bit of trouble with him over-racing.
"He had a good spell and he has come back quite good, his ringcraft has got better with each run this time in.
"If he had've had a run like today earlier on he would have fired right up, but he was great."
"Hopefully he can keep doing things right, especially with the [Southern Surge] final coming up."
Jaccka Evan is bred and raced by Charlie and Ailsa Smaill.
All of Anderson's five winners in the sulky in 2025 have come with the Smaill's "Jaccka" horses.
"Charlie and Ailsa are my biggest supporters as owners, they've been great to me.
"It is always good to drive a winner for them and repay the faith."
Three of Anderson's wins have come with Julie Jaccka, who is building up towards a spring return for the Brett Gray stable.
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Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Jaccka Evan's return to form earns finals spot
Jaccka Evan has picked the right time to return to his best form. The pacer will head into Southern Surge Finals Day at Gore in a fortnight after running to a monstrous win at Ascot Park yesterday for trainer Brett Gray and driver Dan Anderson. Despite working hard in the running, Jaccka Evan powered away from his rivals to win in the fastest time of the day among the Southern Surge's 2200m heats. "It wasn't the plan to drive him that way but we couldn't get into the running early and had to push forward," Anderson said. "When Mr President came around I was happy to hand up parked to him but we were just travelling that good we had to keep going." In running his 2min 41.7sec time, Jaccka Evan went faster than the higher-rated Southern Surge pacing heats. The feeling among the Gray camp is that the pacer has always had the potential to produce such a performance. "He raced some nice 3-year-olds early on but we had a bit of trouble with him over-racing. "He had a good spell and he has come back quite good, his ringcraft has got better with each run this time in. "If he had've had a run like today earlier on he would have fired right up, but he was great." "Hopefully he can keep doing things right, especially with the [Southern Surge] final coming up." Jaccka Evan is bred and raced by Charlie and Ailsa Smaill. All of Anderson's five winners in the sulky in 2025 have come with the Smaill's "Jaccka" horses. "Charlie and Ailsa are my biggest supporters as owners, they've been great to me. "It is always good to drive a winner for them and repay the faith." Three of Anderson's wins have come with Julie Jaccka, who is building up towards a spring return for the Brett Gray stable.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Williamson set to build on last week
Matthew Williamson. PHOTO: ODT FILES Matthew Williamson is hoping to make up the difference on day two of the Southern Surge. Day one at Winton last week was a case of close but not quite close enough for the Oamaru trainer, who racked up plenty of top-five finishes with his team. With the move to Ascot Park tomorrow and some key draw upgrades, Williamson is hopeful he can land some of the boosted winning stakes on offer during the series. Judging by his Winton effort, He's No Romeo is in a position to do just that. The pacer raced wide throughout his Winton run after starting from a tough draw in barrier 13. But tomorrow, He's No Romeo faces a much different prospect from barrier 4 around the tighter-turning Invercargill track. "His run at Winton was great. He didn't get too many favours but he kept running on well. "From a better draw this week he would have to be a nice each-way chance. "He has come through that last run quite well and we look to have a few options early, too." Mack Pack lands the same draw he ran third from at Winton last week in barrier 7. The pacer burned early before fighting on well to run third. While no better off this week, he is no worse off either. "His run last week was good too. He seems to have lifted his game lately and got better with more racing. "He can get off the gate as he showed last week, so the draw shouldn't be too much of a worry for him. "If he gets a bit of luck he should be a nice chance." Draws are not so much of an issue for Majic N The Port, who will attempt to break her maiden in race 1. What is much more crucial is her tyres staying pumped up. "She got a flat tyre last week when she ran second, so it was a handy effort. "The manners will be the key to her. If she does everything right she's probably as good a chance as any in there." Landing the ace draw should only aid the chances of Sargent Best. The pacer got a long way off the pace at Winton, but should settle much handier this week. "He has shown when he gets the right run in this grade he's pretty competitive, so he would have to be a top four show." Flying Bird also gets the chance to land handy and boost her form for the Williamson stable. Mighty Miki is one pacer among the Williamson squad who swings to a tough draw in barrier 14, while Mr Cash Man meets a similar field to the one he ran fifth in at Winton last week. Cody Banner looks the best chance of Williamson's three outside drives at Ascot Park. The trotter is fresh up against race-hardened opposition, but he has faced tougher fields in the past.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Hurrell in form after quiet patch
The Southern Surge could prove a key point in Mark Hurrell's year in the sulky. The reinsman was in red-hot form on the first day of the new series, winning three of the last four heats at Winton on Sunday. Hurrell's 2025 had been reasonably quiet up to that point, but the reinsman has returned in the best possible form from a trip to Australia which included seeing his beloved Canberra Raiders maintain their spot at the top of the NRL ladder. Hurrell's treble included his first win for the Brett Gray stable and his first win with Amber Hoffman since 2022, while he also continued his great recent association with Tyler Dewe. "I have been driving for a few different stables lately and it has been great. "That was my first winner for Brett, I have picked up a few drives for him. "I haven't driven for Amber in a while so that was good too." "Kirstin [Green] has been putting me on some nice chances and Tyler's team has been in great form too. "The first half of the season was a little bit quiet but it is good to be getting good books lately." Hurrell and Dewe have Share A Dream in the best possible form after what initially was a frustrating return to racing. "He has taken a wee bit to get ironed out. "We probably drove him a bit upside down to start with and his gait wasn't the best earlier on but it has been improving. "He's fast and he is best driven for one run and he is happy doing it. "He's been earning good money doing it that way and hopefully he can continue it." Hurrell had not driven Major Art in his starts leading into his win on Sunday. The pacer had gone two big races at Winton when winning and then running fourth. When Hurrell jumped on and landed a sweet trip in the one-one for the Hoffman-trained pacer, the result was as expected. "He had been going big races sitting parked." "When I pulled him out he felt like the winner, even though Rightazz got close." "It was the fastest time of the day too. It shows how well he is going." Hurrell completed his winning treble when steering Ultimate Cullect to a front-running win in Sunday's final heat. "We were able to get away with a little bit in the middle of the race, even though Tabasco kept us a little bit honest." "She sprinted a sharp quarter and nothing could make ground." "She deserved to win. She had been going quite well without much luck." Hurrell has plenty to look forward to in the Southern Surge judging by his results during the first round of heats.
