Draper’s veteran claims New Year’s Cup win

Albany trainer Charlie Draper has claimed the $10,000 Lion New Year’s Cup (2258m) with veteran Jasper Casper during a dramatic night of pacing at Harold Reid Paceway last Friday.

In a meeting where there were starting problems and reinsman Shane Butterworth was unable to fulfil his drives after falling out of his cart in race 1, it was a 12-year-old gelding that prevailed in the feature race.

With junior driver Emily Suvaljko in the sulky, Jasper Casper settled midfield on the pegs in the field of eight runners before working clear as they approached the final bend and charging home to get over the top of Irock-myworld.

Jasper Casper, having his 223rd career start, chalked up his 21st victory and has two wins in his past five starts.

Butterworth fell from the cart on Paris Sixtyeight in the Trevors Carpet 3YO Westbred Pace (2258m) which caused a false start.

The race was re-run with Paris Sixtyeight and Gotta Keep Jetting both late scratchings and Butterworth was stood down from driving for the remainder of the meeting. Trainer-driver combination Andrew and Aiden De Campo finished with a winning treble at the second meeting of the Albany Harness Racing Club season.

Short priced favourite Walsh saluted early in the program before Smoldering Ashes and then Better Be Oscar rounded out a winning trip for the Capel pair.

Trainer Peter Anderson recorded a double after Jesse Allwood and All Over Tan were successful on the eight-race card, both driven by reinsman Donald Harper.

Madeleine Young drove two winners to make it three here in Albany this season after the talent scored victory with Kirsten at the season opener on December 21.

Anderson started the season in brilliant style, training four winners on the eight-race card on December 21.

AHRC has its third meeting of the season this Saturday night with a seven-race card programmed.