Cameron on the go with Gonzo

Have horse will travel – that’s the mantra of Waiuku horseman Sean Cameron.

Not many would cover more of New Zealand campaigning their horses than the affable South Auckland horseman but he loves what he does.

In recent months the motor has been running while the bank balance has been rising.

At Riccarton on Saturday, Sydenham Hurdles victor Go Go Gonzo became his 12th southern winner in the last few months, but more importantly his biggest success on his current trip south and now a serious contender for Wednesday’s $75,000 Grand National Hurdles.

Go Go Gonzo has spent the majority of his career in the south with 25 of his 39 starts there including all of his last 15.

Despite racking up a huge amount of kilometres, around about 2,000 on this sojourn, Cameron sees no need to set up a permanent southern base.

‘‘It seems to be working pretty well, what I’m doing at the moment,’’ he said while leaving the running of his Waiuku green waste business in capable hands during the quieter winter period.

Cameron initially headed south for Easter racing at Riverton with 15 horses, 10 of them in his ownership.

‘‘When you’re on the road it’s not cheap,’’ he said.

‘‘But this year we’ve managed to put some money in the bank while last year it was just break even.’’

After 10 weeks based at Ascot Park he moved north to Riccarton where the warmer climate, about five degrees by his reckoning, appealed to him and his equine charges.

‘‘They have been moulting like crazy and have improved with it,’’ he said.

The travelling stable is down to eight as several have gone home leaving four representatives at Wednesday’s Riccarton meeting headlined by Go Go Gonzo in the National.

Like most of the Cameron team, the 8-year-old is a hand-me-down.

‘‘I sort of ask around about different horses and for one reason or another they come my way,’’ he said.

‘‘Go Go Gonzo was with Lesley Munro at Pukekohe and owned by Doug Burns who has his half-sister Rebel Rose.

‘‘But this horse was a fraction small for Doug’s purposes so I got him.’’

He’s been a good find having won $32,500 on this trip with the biggest pay day for both Cameron and his horse potentially just days away.

‘‘I took him for a paddle at the beach this morning [Sunday] and we’ll go back again tomorrow,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s just a matter of keeping him happy until Wednesday.’’

There’s a change of rider with Saturday’s winning jockey Hamish Mcneill committed to Ready Eddie with premiership champion Aaron Kuru his replacement.

‘‘Hamish had been booked for Ready Eddie whose connections have been good to him and we were fortunate to get Aaron.

‘‘The horse has come through Saturday well and now we will be nervously excited waiting for Wednesday. You spend a couple of years making these jumpers so it’s very rewarding when they win a big one.

‘‘If he can do it on Wednesday it will be by far my biggest win.’’

A Grand National title will make all the travels worthwhile.