No Whip Whitney (Friday 10th February 2012)
Bruce Stewart
Driver Robin Swain didn’t carry a whip today when he drove Earl three year old Whitney, winner of the Plumbing World Trot at Winton.
A half sister to nine race winner Ray, Whitney was having her third start. At her first start at Forbury she was pulled up.
“I put her in a place she just didn’t want to be. There was a lot going on around her with first starters and she panicked and broke,” said trainer Billy Heads who drove her that night.
At her next start at Wyndham she looked the winner before breaking with 50 metres to run. She ducked in when driver Dexter Dunn used the whip and broke. So her trainer requested that her driver Robin Swain didn’t carry a whip in today’s race.
“Robin drove her at the Gore workouts and had a feel of her so when Dexter wasn’t coming down I offered him the drive.”
The filly settled fifth early, before Swain took her three wide at the top of the straight. She trotted to the lead with 200 metres to run and won easily from Anothersuperstar and Sienna Sun.
Robin Swain
Heads says Whitney can be a handful at times but she's improving.
“She never goes on the training track. We work her on my hill and she has a bit of an attitude at times but she’s getting better. She’s part owned by “Pup” Hulston who raced horses from my stable and is a neighbour of Tim Butt (part owner and original trainer). She qualified at Ashburton and had a few trials up there but they thought she’d be better placed down here. She's also on the market but I’ll keep racing her until she’s sold.”
Heads, who is recovering from a hip operation and is on light duties for Fonterra, has eight horses in work – three in the racing team, and the remainder in the jog team.
A Pleasant Lake View (Friday 10th February 2012)
Bruce Stewart
He qualified impressively at Wydham in December 2010 beating Easybet and Hokuri Handrail; both race day winners, but it’s taken eight starts for Lake View to get his win for Winton trainer Lauren Pearson and owners Jim and Barry Taylor.
“He hasn’t been putting it together on race day and letting everyone down. We took all the gear off him today and he didn’t have an over check, plus he was on his home track. Brent (Barclay) took him forward at the 800 and stuck it to the leader and we got the chocolates,” said Pearson.
Lake View
Lake View has been a bit of a head scratcher for Pearson, starting favourite a number of times after impressing at trials.
“He was having his last start for us today. We told Jim and Barry that he needed a change of environment so he’s off to Murray Browns. Barry has a share in Hokuri Handrail which is at Murray’s.”
The Elsu four year old settled two back on the outside before Barclay took him forward three wide to challenge the leader Lite Bourbon. He lead at the 400 metres and had a handy break at the top of the straight. He held on by a length and a quarter to beat the improved mare Fred The Needle which ran home well for second.
Brent Barclay
Although Lake View is heading to the Brown stable all is not lost for Pearson as he has high hopes for it's full brother Manapouri Blaze.
“He bowls along nicely but he got a bad quarter crack and we had to turn him out. He’s a nicely put together horse with a different attitude.”
Lake View is a half brother to Sir Vancealot gelding King Colin which won twice for the Taylors when trained at Winton by Alan Scobie. Barclay drove King Colin to win at the Northern Southland in October 2004.
Regent Return (Sunday 19th February 2012)
Bruce Stewart
When driver Kirstin Barclay was tipped from the cart behind Regent Somerton at Wyndham fourteen days ago she could hardly have imagined the dream return to raceday driving at Invercargill today.
After smashing her helmet and suffering bruising she returned to the track today on the same horse for employer and owner Tom Kilkelly.
"Once the gate left I felt quite good and I was back to business. I wasn't nervous, I was more anxious and just wanted to get out there and show that I could do it. It was good to get that race out of the way and to win was a bigger bonus," said Barclay.
She placed Regent Somerton in the one one early before moving him out three wide with 500 metres to run. He hit the lead at the top of the straight and held on to beat Jaspers Belle by a half a head with two lengths back to favourite Undeniable.
Undeniable leads with winner Regent Somerton in the one one with just over a lap to run - Picture Eddie Griffiths
Despite having no form on the board the Kilkelly camp was quietly confident of a good showing from the Live Or Die gelding.
"His work during the week had been really good. He galloped really well on Friday and felt a million dollars. And he warmed up well. He felt good the whole way but switched off a bit down the straight. He's very dumb and a bit immature. He runs up to other horses and says I'm done."
Regent Somerton getting up for Kirstin Barclay - James Jubb
Barclay who has only been working for Kilkelly for three weeks, had previously driven winners for the Tisbury trainer in Ask McArdle and Real Golden Girl.
"She's turned the team around in three weeks" said Kilkelly who was listening in on today's interview while gearing up Arma Rouge. True to his word the out of form Arma Rouge finished a close second to Yeah Right in Race Four paying $5.50 and Seelfeel Blue Chip finished second to Shezaball in Race Ten paying $5.10.
"I'm lucky I've come in at a good time. Tom's got some really nice young horses so the next few seasons look pretty good," said Barclay.
Clark Not Going Overboard (Sunday 19th February 2012)
Bruce Stewart
Experienced horseman Clark Barron has been around horses long enough not to get too carried away or look too far ahead.
He's keeping his feet firmly on the ground despite Gone Overboard's impressive win in the Speights Ale House Mobile Pace at Ascot Park today
"He's always been a nice horse but just lacks maturity and ringcraft. He'll get there because he's got a bit more ability than some," said Barron.
Gone Overboard was caught three wide early before Barron took him to the lead with 1600 metres to run. He kept the pressure on his opposition, running his last 800 metres in 56.1.
"The secret with him is to run the second last quarter quickly. He seems to be able to run the last quarter at the same pace."
Art Connoisseur ran on well for second two lengths away, while favourite Johnny Fox was a further half a length away in third.
Today's field, bar the presence of Spectactular, was a reflection of the local talent heading into the Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes for three year old colts and geldings and Gone Overboard appears to be a leading candidate for the final.
The Christian Cullen gelding was having his first start since finishing seventh at Omakau on the 2nd of January.
"He went back to the Sloans (the owners) for twelve days, (after Omakau) and has had only one workout since. He's a lot stronger in himself and hopefully mentally as well. The unruly position seems to help him but it'll be hard work from there eventually. With a few runs like that though he'll get a bit of confidence and I think we'll be away."
Nice horse nice win for Gone Overboard and Clark Barron - James Jubb
Barron is not getting carried away though and is likely to race the gelding through the local grades.
"We'll have a go at the system down here and work from there. We'll get another go at the C1's and if he gets it as good as he did today that'll be right."
He also says there's been plenty of buyer interest in the horse but no sale has eventuated yet.
"If Alan was going to sell him he would have sold him early in the season when he was chased along (by buyers). He always said he would sell him at some stage though."
Gone Overboard charges for home with Bettor's Brigadier on his back - Picture Eddie Griffiths
Other highlights of the meeting were; two wins as a trainer for Nathan Williamson, a driving double for Adam Sanderson and Dexter Dunn, the golden run of form of Southern Sun who ran 1700 metres in a 1-55.6 mile rate, and Shezaball's impressive front running win in Race Ten, by four and three quarter lengths.
VC Windermere and Kirstin Barclay lead with winner Southern Sun the widest - Picture Eddie Griffiths
Change Suits Fred The Needle (Sunday 26th February 2012)
Bruce Stewart
A change in environment has helped Tinted Cloud mare Fred The Needle lift her game.
After starting her career with breeder Steve Roulston the five year old was having her fourth start for new trainer Ron Barron at Wyndham yesterday.
"Ken (Barron) drove her for Steve a few times and said she may be better in another stable and said to Steve I know where she could go and she ended up here," said Ron Barron. "She was a little bit fractious for a start but she's improving and she's quite a nicely mannered horse now."
In yesterday's 2400 metre mobile event Fred The Needle couldn't muster early speed from the mobile and settled off the rails second last.
Driver Clark Barron sent her forward three wide with 700 metres to run. At the top of the straight it looked like Beaudiene Brilliance and Fred The Needle were going to fight out the finish. Fred The Needle just got the better of Beaudiene Brillance when favourite Twilight Jaccka charged home. Fred The Needle tenatively held on to win by a nose from Twilight Jaccka with Beaudiene Brilliance a head back in third.
"Clark said he'd thought she had been beaten and I said, Matty Williamson was sitting behind me (in the stand) and said the horse with the biggest head won, guaranteed. So thank goodness she had a big head."
The mare's form has steadily got better since joining Barron's stable and her last start second at Winton, indicated she'd be a player in yesterday's race. She's the first foal out of the Fake Left mare Be Mine Tonite who's second dam is the former smart Southland filly Blurtoscar.
Barron and long time stable client Ritchie McDonald lease Fred The Needle. They have raced a number of horses together and still have a fifty per cent share in trotter Makarewa Sun which now races in Australia. He won eight races in New Zealand and has won a further six in Australia all at Menangle including a mile in 1-56.8. He has now won over $150,000.
Barron sold his old Makarewa property over 18 months ago but has leased back sixteen acres, and the track and the barn on the property. He has only four horses in work at the moment with two currently racing - Fred The Needle and trotting filly Makarewa Lil which finished sixth in Race One yesterday.
"The lease runs out in October and after that I can hopefully lean on Clark or Tony for some stable space."
Fred The Needle just gets there - Picture James Jubb
Fuller And Jones On The Mark (Sunday 26th February 2012)
Bruce Stewart
He came down as a travelling companion for his higher profile stablemate Ohoka Assassin but Ohoka Squire went one better than Ohoka Assassin when he won the Bmac Sheetmetal 2005 Limited Mobile Pace at Wyndham yesterday.
The three year old which is owned by Katie Carville and The Carville Jasper Syndicate was having his first start for Weedon's horseman Mark Fuller.
"He's a lovely wee three year old who hasn't done a lot. He's had three trials this time in and he's got better everytime," said Fuller. "I do a lot of breaking in for Katie and pre-train a lot. If they're any good they normally go to either Tony Herlihy or Mark Jones. I was never going to carry on racing them but I quite liked this fella so that's how it happened. I'll probably keep him because it'll be hard to sack me now," said Fuller.
From the second row Mark Jones settled the Christian Cullen gelding on the outside before improving three wide at the 1800 metres. He paced to the lead with a lap to run and proved too strong for Tic Tac Bromac which was three quarters of a length back in second place.
Fuller says the instructions for Jones was to press forward and use the staying abilities of the gelding and he says Ohoka Squire should get better with time.
"His brother Ohoka Nevada wasn't good until he was four and five and ended up winning lots of races in Australia so I'm sure this horse is going to improve. He hasn't got as much speed at Ohoka Assassin but I like the way he stays. I think he's more of a Country Cups horse than a three year old," said Fuller.
Ohoka Nevada won a race for Brian Kerr and five for David and Catherine Butt before he was exported to Australia. He's won a further twenty eight races in Aussie and has now won $383,394. His biggest wins have been in the $70,000. Sew Eurodrive Kilmore Cup and $50,000. Park Douglas Mildura Cup. His 48 starts in Australia have seen him win twenty eight races, run second seven times and third five times. He has recorded winning sequences of seven straight and ten straight.
Later in the day stablemate Ohoka Assassin finished second to the smart Alta Christiano in the Kindergarten Stakes.
Ohoka Squire and Mark Jones winning easily - Picture James Jubb
The Cup Ledger (Sunday 26th February 2012)
Bruce Stewart
It's been one of the great battles of the Southland season. The fresh face of twelve start freshman Glencoe VC and the continued rise of Franco Ledger. And in yesterday's Wyndham Cup these two rivals from the twenty metre mark provided the highlight and the quinella of a wet Wyndham Cup.
Franco Ledger began brilliantly from the twenty metre mark and was in third place by the time the field reached the winning post for the first time. From that point he sat two back on the outside. When Hokonui Ben came three wide with a lap to run Hunter moved Franco Ledger out and took the lead at the 1200 metres. Glencoe VC then charged around and after quickly identifying the colours Hunter let that horse roll to the lead.
"I was happy to let him go to the lead when I saw the calibre of the horse," said Hunter.
Once the passing lane arrived at the top of the straight Hunter moved his charge up the lane and he won easily by three and a half lengths.
"He's always been a great wet tracker - I think he's unbeaten on a wet track. He's a bit of a hardcase to drive. You can be absolutely cruising then he'll go off the bit. It was great though and he felt good all the way."
Once again the grandstand was amped up with the roar of the What Ever Syndicate which follow and support this horse with a passion.
When the New Zealand Messenger was mentioned Hunter laughed.
"It has been mentioned by other people other than ourselves. It's a long way off. We may be better looking after him until next season. We'll just wait and see becuase the class four year olds are very classy." And with that Hunter got the call to the inquiry room and was off.
You get the feeling that Hunter and the syndicate have unfinished business at Addington.
Of the Cups run this season Franco Ledger finished fourth in the Riverton Cup, second in the Wairio and Gore Cup before he won the Central Otago Cup. He then ran fifth in the Northern Southland Cup before running second to Ohoka Texas in the Invercargill Cup. In his last two starts he's won the Waikouati Cup and yesterday's Wyndham Cup.
Hamish Hunter and the What Ever Syndicate share in the ownership of Franco Ledger which has now won eleven races and banked $115,906. Perhaps some of the winnings may be invested in a half brother by McArdle which is coming up at the Sale of the Stars in Christchurch in eight days.
The race also proved the class and quality of Glencoe VC. In only this thirteenth start he should be so much better next season and like Franco Ledger should be well placed at Cup Week 2012.
Hamish Hunter - Picture Eddie Griffiths
Christiano's Kindy (Sunday 26th February 2012)
Bruce Stewart
Ohoka trainer Paul Kerr had his eye on Kindergarten Stakes winner Alta Christiano right from early days.
"I actually went to the sales looking for a nice Christian Cullen colt and Auckland was the first sale that year. I had seen a lot of the ones down south and nothing compared to him. He had a nice presence about him so I made my mind up there and then. I know Tony Dickinson his breeder very well. I saw this horse as a foal and again as a weanling so I knew a bit about him and where he's come from. I had a really good look at him on parade day and got my vet to look him over. We had to wait until the last hour of the sale before we could buy him," said Kerr.
The Ohoka trainer has had his fair share of luck with the progeny of Christian Cullen.
"Pay Me Christian was the first nice one we had and he was just a super racehorse. If you get the right one (Christian Cullen) they've got speed and stamina. Auditor General was another nice one. He won eleven races for us and although he didn't race as a two year old he was a real speed horse. He had beautiful manners and all the Christian Cullen's have been a pleasure to train."
Kerr said that Alta Christiano broke in well and it wasn't long before he was starting to get excited about the youngster.
"After his second preparation I started to get a bit excited about him. We don't do much with them at that point just a lot of strong pace work. One day I just let him run and got quite a pleasant surprise how he buzzed up a quarter. He then had two and a half months out and this is his third preparation. I took him to a workout at Rangiora and he won easily and the next week on the same track he ran his last 800 metres in 56 and last 400 metres in 27 and he jogged it. I thought goodness - two year olds just don't do that on this track so I thought we had something pretty special then."
Yesterdays race was only the horse's second start. Earlier this month he was bought down to Winton where he demolished a field of local juveniles running a mile in 1-56.8.
"We bought him down to give him a trip away and to find out whether he was going to handle the away business. He was full of it wondering what was going on and didn't eat up all his feed. This trip away he's just taken to it like an old campaigner. He hasn't left an oat and he's drunk up."
In yesterday's 51st running of the time honoured Kindergarten Stakes driver Mitchell Kerr took the colt to the lead after 200 metres and after that never looked in trouble; beating Ohoka Assassin by one and three quarter lengths with Liam Sienna eleven and a quarter lengths back in third.
"Mitch said he really didn't get out of second gear. The 1-57 was just an outstanding time on the wet track. By the time he got back to the stables he was just breathing normally. "
He's owned by Keith and Jenny Ovens, Alto Breeding, Belinda and John Symon and Ray Fleetwood. The Symons are first time owners.
"They have come to our boot party on Cup Day for the last couple of years. They do quite a bit of fishing so they supply the crayfish on Cup Day. Keith said to them that I had a lovely colt and would they like to have a share in him and they jumped at the chance. Keith and I played rugby together and hes been in horses with me since day one. He's just been a fantastic client and a really good friend."
It was Paul Kerr's second win in the Kindergarten. He won the race with another son of Christian Cullen Pay Me Christian in 2005.
"I think he's better than Pay Me Christian as a two year old. Pay Me Christian had this fella's speed but not his strength and manners. He (Alta Christiano) doesn't wear any extra gear and it doesn't matter where he is in the running, he just relaxes."
With yesterday's Group Three feature out of the way Kerr confirmed that he will take the next step up and face a wider group of two year old talent.
"He's off to the Sires heat at Forbury then he'll probably take in a heat of the Sales Graduation series after that. He'll then go out for a two or three week break.The main targets are in May. He's got the Sales Series Final, Sire Stakes and then the Harness Jewel. Then he's going out for a nice break."
