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RACING HISTORY

The decision to send Callie’s Delight south 16 months ago has proven to be a masterstroke by her previous trainer John Dickie.

The now seven-year-old mare was a highly consistent performer for his Clevedon operation, winning seven races and placing in the Group 1 Queen Of Hearts (2200m), but he thought she was better placed in the south.

Dickie advised Callie’s Delight’s owners to send her to Woodend Beach trainer Bob Butt and she has thrived in the coastal environment.

She has added a further five victories to her record, highlighted by her maiden Group 1 success in the Fahey Fence Hire 51st NZ Standardbred Breeders’ Stakes (2600m) at Addington on Friday night, a race she placed in last year.

Callie’s Delight drew ideally in one and was given the perfect trip in the trail throughout by Blair Orange behind Lady Of The Light, who kept an honest pace throughout, and the diminutive Callie’s Delight was able to scoot up the passing lane to score a head victory.
“It was good to get a good draw and it all worked out perfectly,” Butt said.

“Blair summed it up perfectly and trailed Lady Of the Light and it worked out great.

“She ran third in the race last year where she was quite unlucky.

“She has always been knocking on the door against those good mares so it was good that she got the Group One because she deserves it. She just tries her guts out.”
Butt said he was thankful for Dickie for sending the mare south.

“John and Josh sent her down. She did a great job with them, she placed in a Group One when they had her and they thought the beach might help her,” Butt said.

“I am lucky and thankful to them for sending her down.”
Butt is unsure of Callie’s Delight’s next targets, but he is sure to savour what was a satisfying Group 1 victory on Friday night.

“I haven’t really thought about after tonight. She will probably race on through,” he said.

Credit : Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk, 10 Feb 2023


Credit: Joshua Smith

RACING HISTORY HORSES

Muscle Mountain’s rivals can expect the heat to get even more intense after the trotting star claimed his second win in the Fred Shaw Memorial Group 1 New Zealand Trotting Championship.

Backers of the red-hot favourite only had cause for concern in the last 100m of the Addington feature, when the Greg and Nina Hope trained six-year-old appeared to lose concentration.

Driver Ben Hope stoked up the big striding squaregaiter and he went one better than his second to Sundees Son in last year’s edition.

Hope overcame an incredibly challenging seven days to win the race after being stuck down with what doctors thought was a bacterial infection which had him unwell into the early part of this week.

The reinsman controlled the pace with Muscle Mountain, speeding home in quick sectionals to score in a time that was seven seconds slower than last year’s running.
Though thrilled to win, Hope’s first thoughts were of regret because his ‘stackem up and sprintem home’ tactics didn’t let Muscle Mountain show off his huge motor.
“I don’t think I did the horse justice with how I judged the pace but lucky enough he’s superstar and was able to overcome it,” Hope said.

That seems bad news for the horse’s rivals on his upcoming North Island campaign.
The Hope camp plan to bypass the upcoming Waikato Trotters Flying Mile before the targeting the Lyell Creek Stakes.

Don’t be surprised if Ben Hope lets his superstar trotter roll along at Alexandra Park following the small fright he gave the reinsman in the late stages of Friday night’s feature.

Aardiebythehill was excellent in second and looked a winning chance when making ground in the late stages as Muscle Mountain shortened stride.
Midnight Dash ran into third ahead of Oscar Bonavena who ran a big race, sitting parked after losing ground after a rare early gallop.

Credit : Jonny Turner, HRNZ News 1 April 2023


Credit: Jonny Turner