Racing: Families to the fore at Wairio meeting

Grenadier and his half-sister Nursemaid won consecutive races at the Wairio Trotting Club's meeting at Winton on Saturday.

Reinsman Peter Hunter won the Wairio Cup for the second time when Grenadier came off the backmark of 20m to beat stablemate Apache Jay by a long neck.

Grenadier and Apache Hay are both trained by Hunter's brother, Hamish, who drove another stable runner in the race, Galleons Treasure who finished ninth. Apache Jay was driven by Christchurch's Colin de Filippi.

Peter Hunter had driven Yandoon to win the 1992 Wairio Cup.

The winning stake of $5000 lifted Grenadier's earnings to $89,939, the result of seven wins, 10 seconds and four thirds from 48 starts.

Said Peter Hunter: "We got a nice sit behind Sugar Shack when she went round. When I pulled him out at the top of the straight he felt pretty nice. The last 50m he was tired but he kept giving."

Grenadier will head to the $20,000 Ashburton Cup on December 26.

Nursemaid came up trumps in the Robin Dundee Bracelet.

Father Dan Cummings, of Winton, drove his first totalisator winner when he reined the Derek Dynes-trained Tact Hayley Jane in the Unichem Pace.

"I've helped Derek for six years and I drive for him at work-outs and trials," Father Dan said.

He has had about 30 race drives in 16 years.

- NZPA