| FEATURE RACE COMMENT |
YEAR: 2003
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Kevin Judson has done some lifting in his day. He has won the world power-lifting championship in his grade, competed in the 1982 Commonwealth Games at Brisbane and won the ultimate title, Mr New Zealand.
He did some lifting a few months ago, of the spiritual kind, when he promised Gareth Dixon a horse whenever he chose to set up his own training stable. In February, Dixon was in business, and Judson was as good as his word. He sent him Allstar Blue Jean. Not only a star in name, but Allstar Blue Jean was a star in the making. He had been trained by Glen Harwood, until Harwood decided to seek his fortune in Canada. The 3-year-old had been an up-and-comer, but there was much ahead of him. It was now over to Dixon.
In short order, Allstar Blue Jean has raced three times for three wins. The latest was the $50,000 Nobilo 3-year-old Flying Stakes at Addington when he weaved his way from midfield to catch Raptorial, trained by Dixon's old boss, Tony Herlihy. On the way through, he hiked past the favourite Light And Sound and another esteemed employer, Mark Purdon.
Judson didn't see much of this, and had to settle on a television replay to see just how it happened. "I saw him on the corner, but not again until they went past the post and I saw him in front," he said. Judson has been in the car business and the gym business, and now he is a keen player in the amatuer drivers' ranks in the north. Dixon said Harwood deserved the credit for getting Allstar Blue Jean to the biggest level. "I had always thought he was as good as Elsu and the rest of the 3-year-olds, with the exception of Light And Sound. He was a victim of circumstances in the Sales Series, but the great thing with this horse is that he looks after himself. His heart rate is brilliant and he has a tremendous recovery rate, and he is actually getting better," he said.
Dixon has made a flying start to his training career, which only started in February. He has taken four to the races - Russley Fire, Allstar Blue Jean, Patch Adams and Rock'n Rhonda - and all have won. He is breaking in a number of yearlings, including sixv he will keep to train, by Holmes Hanover (two), Badlands Hanover (two), Dream Away and Il Vicolo. One of them is Judson's.
Considering Dixon has been around the world, caring for such greats as Pride Of Petite and Il Vicolo, his steady approach and early success is not at all surprising.
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 2Apr03
YEAR: 2002
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A lap from home in the NRM Sires'Stakes Final, Jamie MacKinnon's heart skipped a beat. He had just watched his horse Maheer Lord work around to the front at the 1300 metre mark, but all of a sudden his mind flashed back to a very similar occasion on Cup Day two years ago. Back then, Kliklite did exactly the same thing... pressing forward to lead the NZ Cup field coming into the straight for the second-to-last time; seconds later disaster struck though, and Kliklite broke down in the very same spot, never to be seen on a racetrack again.
MacKinnon fought off the deja vu feelings, and Maheer Lord stayed in front to fight off the stern challenges of Allstar Blue Jean and Champagne Princess, taking out the Sires' Stakes Final in brilliant fashion. Now unbeaten in six starts, Maheer Lord's performance to win the 1950m mobile event in such quick time considering the conditions was one of the highlights of Cup Day 2002.
By Holmes Hanover, the 3-year-old gelding is out of the New York Motoring mare Fern Glen, who won ten races. Maheer Lord was bred by charismatic enthusiast Monty Baker, who races him in partnership with MacKinnon. "Everybody knows Monty," the latter said smiling. "We have raced horses together for years. The first was Blazing Spirit, after I became a member of the Top Of The Line Syndicate which Monty manages. She won five, and another one we had was Ideal Franco. After we had to retire Kliklite I told Monty I would always be interested in racing another 'nice' horse with him," MacKinnon said.
Aged 46, MacKinnon travels quite a bit with his main occupation, which is buying movie copyrights for companies such as Civic Video. Earlier this year he was in the United States on business when the phone rang, and it was Baker on the line. "I think I have got one that is alright," Baker told his friend. "Monty asked if I wanted to ring Tony (Herlihy) and ask him about Maheer Lord, but I told him that wasn't necessary because his judgement was good enough."
Back home in time to see Maheer Lord qualify around Pukekohe at the end of June, MacKinnon joined Baker in the ownership of the gelding soon afterwards. Having won his qualifier and every other trial since, Maheer Lord is yet to be beaten on the track, and his perfect six-for-six record on raceday has taken his earnings to $102,725. "I like racing horses with Monty," MacKinnon continued. "We get along really well, and we have had a bit of luck which always helps."
Credit: John Robinson writing in HRWeekly 14Nov02