Another Reefton hit-and-run mission for Mitchell
Matt Markham - Raceform • December 30th, 2025 11:13 AM • 5 min read
David Mitchell is sticking with the tried and true this year and heading back to the West Coast.
The Ashburton horseman has become renowned in the last three or four years for bypassing the two days of harness racing action at Westport in favour of hit-and-run missions at Reefton on the final day of the three-day circuit, and he’ll arrive in the Town of Light this week with a three-pronged attack.
The team is spearheaded by the Reefton Cup-bound Deceptive Lee, who steps out for the first time in a number of months after winning his last start at Addington.
“He won that race and then next day he was lame,” Mitchell told RaceForm. “Luckily it was nothing too serious, and a bit of time out and he’s come back fine and no issues.”
The seven-year-old son of Captaintreacherous has had just the one quiet workout at Methven to prepare him for his resumption, but it’s a heat stacked with form with Raknruin and Clonakilty both winners since and Bannockburn and Shepherd’s Delight placegetters too.
“It was a good hitout, a nice wee field and most have gone on and done a pretty good job. Ideally we would have had a trial under the belt too, but I think he’s forward enough.
“We snuck into the Ashburton track to work him the other day and I thought his work was exceptionally good, so we’re on the right track.”
A bonus for Deceptive Lee heading into the $25,000 Reefton Cup is that while he’s been head down in a paddock back at home, his rivals have been beating each other up over the past two days of racing – first over two miles on Boxing Day and then for most again on Sunday on the second day at Westport.
“It’s something we like to do each year – take a team of horses to Reefton in a fresh state, where everything else has usually been racing for the past few days, and it’s something that’s worked for us too.”
Deceptive Lee will have to step out against a small but strong field in the Reefton Cup, but perhaps not quite as big as first thought. Many withdrawals have left the race light on numbers, but what is there is appealing.
Westport Cup winner Hacksaw Ridge will be out to make it two Cup wins in four days for Southland trainer Ricky Gutsell. He was emphatic winning on Boxing Day and has grown a love for the grass tracks, and having missed day two at Westport, he will be well freshened.
Also coming in after missing day two is Teds Legacy, who finished second in the Westport Cup. The Jim Curtin-trained pacer loves the Coast racing scene and against a small field looks to have a strong chance of landing on the speed and making them chase.
Middle-day winner Smoke On The Water will have to contend with a 45m handicap, but his class also makes him a good hope too.
Mitchell has trained seven winners in the past four years at Reefton, which is a strong record given they only race on the track twice a year, and one of those seven winners was Deceptive Lee back in 2021.
“He doesn’t mind the place, and if he can get away well and find a nice trip, then he shouldn’t be too far away from them on the way he feels at home.”
As well as his Cup contender, Mitchell will also take two maidens across to the meeting as well including a full-brother to Lazarus in Resurgamus.
“He’s been a bit of a project horse, a little wayward at times but he was very good last time out and does seem to be getting better with racing.
“If he was to run up to his third the other day, then you’d like to think he’d be pretty competitive over there.”
Three-year-old filly Liberty Girl will make her debut off the back of a good groundwork of trials and workouts, and while she might not be a winner first-up, she is one to follow.
“Early on, you wondered why you were putting her on the float sometimes, but each time we’ve taken her off the place she’s got a little better and all of a sudden she’s not a bad prospect.
“Whatever she does, she’ll improve off and might be one to follow.”
Safely through their Reefton assignments, the trio are likely then to head south to the final two days of the Central Otago circuit for meetings at Roxburgh and then Cromwell.
They’ll be joined there by stablemates, Crackle N Crunch and Song Sung Blue – both of whom will step out on the first day of that circuit at Omakau on Friday.
Crackle N Crunch has done a super job in a short career and brings strong form to Omakau having finished third at his last start behind To Ri Ruby at Orari early in December.
Song Sung Blue will have to take on a very sharp field in the Ranfurly Transport Ltd Central Otago Cup but has a good barrier draw to work from.
“We’re taking a nice team down there and we’ll pick and choose which meetings we target with which horses, but they all tend to go well down in Central Otago too, so we’re looking forward to getting back down there.”
Gemma Thornley will do the majority of the driving duties across both Reefton and the Central Otago circuit.
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