FOUR-YEAR-OLD gelding Dasher Houli broke through for his maiden win in the second heat of the Allen Williams Memorial at the Luxbet Racing Centre in Launceston last night.
Driver John Walters took Dasher Houli straight to the lead and was able to enjoy some slow sectionals early in the event. Around the home corner the Stonebridge Regal gelding was headed by Why Went Wong and then in the home straight Dasher Houli had to fight off the well supported debutante Rock The Casbolt who hit the lead in the home straight.
It was the first win for Dasher Houli at only his fifth race start and it was also the first win for his trainer Mark Reggett who only gained his trainers licence about eight months ago. The Brighto-based trainer, like many in the industry, got involved through family involvement: “My father Leigh and my pop Max trained horses, plus growing up at Brighton I was always involved with the horses,” said a delighted Mark Reggett post race.
Reggett a builder by trade, has spent time working for Ashwood brothers Rodney and Paul along with the Ford family at various times throughout his involvement in the industry. The thirty-year-old trainer purchased Dasher Houli off owner-breeder Brooke Hammond, “I got him through Brooke Hammond she had him for a while and I was working for Rodney Ashwood at the time who broke him in and he said he went alright. So we went up to Brooke’s had a look at him and ended up purchasing him,” Reggett explained.
Mark Reggett is the partner of Kelly Medurst whose father Zane was officiating as a Clerk of the course at Sunday’s meeting and has been a major supporter of Mark’s involvement in the industry.
Dasher Houli now qualifies for the $10, 000 Allen Williams Memorial Final which will be held at Devonport on March 5. “He might have another run before the final, I will see how he pulls up after tonight’s effort,” said the winning trainer.
Watch Dasher Houli taking out Race 7: