Shirley didn’t shirk challenge

Costa Del Magnifico’s comeback to racing on Friday night will be tinged with sadness.

He is trained at Ascot Park by Brent Shirley, whose father, Gil, died in Invercargill on Sunday. He was 84.

The Shirleys are well-known in New Zealand harness racing and breeding industries. Gil was a successful trainer-driver and breeder.

Costa Del Magnifico is competing in the Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington on Friday. The Group III free-for-all is the first important lead up race to the New Zealand Cup in November.

Brent said it would be special if Costa Del Magnifico won.

‘‘We’ll be hoping Gil can get him home in the Vase,’’ Brent said. ‘‘We’ll be doing our best for Gil.’’

Vi Et Animo was the last good horse Gil trained, preparing the gelding for 15 of his 19 wins. As a 3-year-old, Vi Et Animo won seven consecutive races in the 2008-09 season.

Brent drove Vi Et Animo and among their achievements was a third in the 2009 New Zealand Derby. Nero’s Charger gave the Shirleys a lot of enjoyment.

‘‘I drove him and dad trained him . . . he won the Tuapeka Cup and Riverton Cup,’’ Brent said.

Gil and Curly Thomas stood many sires at Ascot Stud in Invercargill, the best being Majestic Chance.

Thomas said a galloping sire they stood, Whistling Willie, left a lot of good winners, such as Stormy Seas (Mackinnon Stakes) and Judge Obadiah.

On two occasions, in the 1960s-70s, Shirley and Thomas arranged for a plane to fly to Invercargill and take horses to Australia. The horses were broodmares, weanlings and racehorses.

Shirley trained and drove Hindu to win the first race at the inaugural night meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club in 1961.