Real Slim Tradie stands up tall with victory
Waipukurau trainer Kirsty Lawrence hassome high aspirations for Real Slim Tradie, whobroke through for a gamemaiden win at this month's Waipukurau Jockey Club's meeting at Hastings.
The Showcasing 3-year-old followedupa debut second over 1200mat Trentham lastmonthwith a three-quarter length victory over 1300mat Hastings and gives every indication he will only get better with moretime and racing.
Lawrence, whose husband Steve is amongthe sizeablenumberof owners in the horse, said thisweek she is keen to step him upinto black type races in the future.
"Iknowit might sound like a bit of a dream butweare going to have a crack at the Wellington Stakes at Otaki at the end of this month," Lawrence said.
"And today I chucked in a nomination for the Group 1New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie in March next year.
"He might not get to the derby but they are only three once and so I thoughtwemight as well put in a nomination," she added.
The Group 3 $70,000 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes is run over1600mat Otaki onNovember26 and is a traditional stepping-stone to someof the major 3-year-old races later in the season.
Lawrence and husband Steve purchased Real Slim Tradie off the Gavelhouse website in March this year, paying $4500 plusGSTfor the now3-year-old.
"He had been given a 2-year-old ReadyToRunpreparation but was passed in at that sale for $20,000," Lawrence said.
"It took us awhile to get himhome and thenwewere heldup due to the Covid lockdown sowejust concentrated on getting himto relax.
"He's a bit spooky still and is a bit dumband does things wrong but he's developing and strengthening and is sure to get better with time."
Steve Lawrence is a painter by trade and he and Kirsty have managedto get anumberof other tradesmen to takeupa share in the horse.
"Some of them are first time owners and there are otherswho have had horses but never awinner so it was ahuge thrill for thosewho were able to get on course to see the win last Sunday," Lawrence added.
The full list of shareholders is Steve Lawrence, Phil and Jo Hayes, Peter and Sonya Barry, AndrewRochester, Kate Boyden, SamElkink, Dion and Chel Adams, Hamish and Shane Overend, Trent Miller and Mark Bland from Hawke's Bay and Kaweraubased Brent Mitchell.
Real Slim Tradie certainly has somegood breeding to backuphis ability. Heis out of the Elusive City mare Acapela, whowas the winner of four races and finished a close fourth in the Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga.
Afull-sister to Real Slim Tradie is Flaunting, whoincluded the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganuiamongher two wins and wasalso second in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki as a 2-yearold.
Kirsty Lawrence said Real Slim Tradie is not a typical Showcasing
type, with that sire's progeny normally being short-coupled horses and predominantly sprinters.
"He is moreof a long lean horse andmore of a real stayer so stepping himup to 1600 metres shouldn't be
a problem and hopefullyhe will get further."
Ryan Bishop rode Real Slim Tradie to victory this month. The horse was a shade slow to begin and wascaught three-wide, in midfield, for almost the entire race.
Hewaseven wider turning into the homestraight and looked to be labouring with300mto run before producing an extra effort in the final stages to win well.
Lawrence said the horse is a big striderwhowasn't that happy in the slow track conditions and that he should be even better on firmer footing. Real Slim Tradie is one of nine horses Kirsty Lawrence has in work at themomentbut one of only two at the racing stage, the other being Pep Torque.
She alternates Real Slim Tradie's training between working on the Waipukurau track and beach work and says the variation seems to work well with the horse.