Racing: A moment of inspiration

Current world champion harness driver Mark Jones made a fleeting visit to yesterday's barrier and qualifying trials at Alexandra Park.

Jones flew up from Christchurch for the "catch drive" behind comeback Free-For-All trotting champion Take A Moment.

The pair made ground impressively in the home stretch to finish third behind Pompallier and Allegro Agitato in the feature Free-For-All Trot trial.

Take A Moment's regular driver Anthony Butt was unable to travel to Auckland for the drive. Butt was still commuting back from Sydney after driving Take A Moment's stable mate Foreal to win the New South Wales Oaks at Harold Park on Friday night.

"He trotted very well and he steered perfectly which is a good sign for a horse on the comeback trail after injury," said Jones.

"I was instructed by Tim [Butt, trainer of Take A Moment] to give him a decent smack on the rump at the top of the straight to ensure that he really stretched out and sprinted strongly at the finish.

"The horse is now a 9-year-old and he only does what he has to do any time you take him to the races. It was important today that he had a strong hit out.

"He had a good blow after the race and his recovery was impressive. Everything appears to be on track for the Inter Dominion Series."

Take A Moment has not raced for 15 months due to injury and Tim Butt is facing a tough task nursing the gelding back to full fitness before the two-week carnival.

Throwing a 9-year-old into a tough racing carnival like the Inter Dominion Series without the benefit of any lead-up racing is certainly going to test the training skills of Butt.

But Take A Moment is no ordinary equine athlete with 38 wins and 12 placings from 60 starts and $1.1 million in stake money underlining the measure of class and speed in this magical trotter.

Jones will sit back and wait for stable driver Anthony Butt to make a tough decision heading into the $250,000 First Sovereign Inter Dominion Trotters Grand Final at Alexandra Park on March 18.

Butt is the regular driver of Lyell Creek and Take A Moment and will be forced to commit to one of the veteran Free-For-All trotters if they both qualify for the Inter Dominion Trotters Grand Final.

Jones will be forced to drive the Free-For-All trotter that Butt does not choose.

"Ants [Anthony Butt] rates himself pretty highly as a good judge of horse flesh but I'm hoping that he gets it wrong if both Take A Moment and Lyell Creek qualify for the Inter Dominion Final.

"It'll be tough for Take A Moment to come back from injury and win, but his career record underlines his class."


- HERALD ON SUNDAY