Those of us who have been involved in the racing industry for any length of time will be well aware of the outrageous swings of fortune that are inescapable.
The day after our promising 3YO Highway to Heaven was withdrawn from Derby contention due to his inability to win a strong maiden on a firm track we received the devastating news that our Auckland Cup hope Candle in the Wind had suffered a significant tendon injury. After her unlucky second in the City of Auckland Cup, she carried the hopes of a number of her owners that she could give them their first Group 1 victory.
And yet it was on this very same day that the Iffraaj gelding Maybe Miami deservedly won the Listed Timaru Stakes at Riccarton. Plagued by unsuitable tracks and bad draws in his previous attempts at black type events, the Kevin Hughes trained 5YO was too strong for a competitive field in an impressive 1:21.92 for the 1400 metres – in spite of the unsuitably rock-hard Riccarton track and yet another bad draw. Maybe Miami was a $20,000 purchase at the 2013 Horses in Training sale and has now won $138,485 from his seven victories to date.
There’s a lot to be said for having small shares in a number of horses. In even the worst of times, it’s generally the case that at least one of them is either racing well or promising to do so. Highway to Heaven, for example, is one of four 3YOs our Cloughmore Racing Partnership has minority shares in. The other three are Dee and Gee, a Darci Brahma filly racing at Whakatane on Monday, Rikki Tikki Tavi, a Tavistock filly with a strong trials placing at the end of her previous preparation and an unnamed Mastercraftsman – Plain Jill filly trained by Ilone Kelly. This latter filly ran a good third at the recent Foxton trials.
Best wishes to all for the Karaka Sales.
