Racing: Pony-sized mare provides consolation

Brent Mangos' consolation came in the smallest of packages at Alexandra Park last night.

But inside that small package must lie a big heart.

Mangos was forced to scratch his stable star Mr Williams from last night's feature pacing free-for-all after the outstanding pacer was struck down with a skin infection yesterday.

"It didn't look too serious and he was a lot better by the afternoon but we couldn't start him," said Mangos.

"It could have been worse, though, because this was on a comeback race. It would have been worse if it had happened before a big race."

While Mangos had to watch the night's pacing highlight from the driver's room he scored a surprise win in the main trot with Bellam's Last Play.

The pony-sized mare made the most of a perfect drive to down Dominion Handicap winner Pompallier and Romper Stomper.

The race was a disaster for most punters as red-hot favourite Our Sunny Whiz suffered her first defeat of the season, and only her third in 13 starts.

The speedster was trapped parked outside the leader, Rosscoe, whose steady pace saw Our Sunny Whiz struggling at the top of the straight.

She will now head to the spelling paddock, missing next month's group one races at Addington, although that has nothing to do with last night's defeat.

Trainer Ken Sefonte had already made the decision to stay in the north and concentrate on the features here before venturing further afield next season.

While Bellam's Last Play will never have Our Sunny Whiz's speed she makes up for it with plenty of courage.

Last night was her sixth win in 16 starts for trainer and co-owner Ian Moody and with eight placings she has only finished out of the money on two occasions.

"She is a brave little thing," said Mangos. "She never stops trying and you just wish they all had a heart like her."

Bellam's Last Play could now be working her way toward a $10,000 bonus, awarded to any horse whose first 10 wins all come at Alexandra Park.

* Latest odds:

New Zealand Trotting Cup, $500,000, stand, group one, 3200m (run at Addington on November 14):

$2.50 Mainland Banner; $5.50 Flashing Red; $7.50 Baileys Dream; $8 Roman Gladiator; $11 Imagine That; $12 Sly Flyin; $14 Winforu; $15 The Flyin Doctor; $16 Waipawa Lad; $18 Cobbity Classic; $25 Likmesiah, It's Ella, Tribute; $30 Howard Bromac-10m; $35 Mighty Cullen; $40 London Legend, Bobs Blue Boy, Napoleon; $50 Badlands Bute; $100 Nursemaid, Presido; $125 Life Of Luxury; $150 Jackson Browne, Kay N Kayes.