Campbell on the move
Group I-winning horseman Andrew Campbell is relocating to Waikato.
He has confirmed the purchase of a property in Cambridge and he will move his operation north from Opaki at the end of October.
‘‘We’ve bought five acres with 19 boxes and walking distance to the track,’’ Campbell said. ‘‘It’s going to be a nice change and a lot less travelling.
‘‘We had to travel three and a-half hours the other day just to get to trials at Waverley. Everything is going to be a lot easier.
‘‘I’ve always loved Cambridge and we’ll be close to the airport as well if we go overseas or down to Christchurch.’’
Campbell said a new base apart, it would be business as usual. ‘‘I’ll be taking 14 horses to Cambridge, and that’s plenty. They are all for Tommy (Heptinstall) and the other boys so nothing’s changing in that regard. All I’ll need are some new track riders.’’
Campbell has been based at Opaki for the last 23 years and said it would be a wrench to leave.
‘‘It’s a great training centre and great people. We’ve had a lot of fantastic times and some very good horses. It’s going to be a culture shock, but we’re all looking forward to it.’’
The highlight of Campbell’s career has undoubtedly been guiding Tavistock to dual Group I victories in the Mudgway Partsworld Stakes and the Waikato Draught Sprint. He also took the son of Montjeu to Melbourne where he won the Group II Blamey Stakes.
‘‘Every time I’ve gone to Cambridge I’ve gone out to Cambridge Stud to see him,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ll be able to do that once a week now.’’
In the meantime, Campbell’s focus is on his Group I Tarzino Trophy candidate Longchamp, who completes his preparation for the opening Group I event of the season with an outing at Tauherenikau on Saturday.
‘‘It won’t be easy and Dolcetto is a good horse on the rise, but I can’t understand how he stays on the same weight after beating us at Awapuni,’’ he said. ‘‘Still, it will top Longchamp off nicely and give our new rider a chance to get a feel for the horse.’’
Johnathan Parkes has been Longchamp’s regular partner, but he has opted to ride Volpe Veloce in the Tarzino so Reese Jones has been booked for the Open 1400 and the Hawke’s Bay feature.