Trainer has spring in step

WELLINGTON: A win by De Koning at Ruakaka on Saturday, along with a promising run from stablemate Pop Star Princess, has kept the spring in the step of Cambridge trainer Fred Cornege.

He and his wife, Lindsay, are partowners of both 5yrolds.

‘‘De Koning has got the ability, but he’s a bit of a wuss and needs to man up a bit more. He could be coming right now.

‘‘As for Pop Star Princess, she lost a length on the home turn and came back again. It was only her first run and she’d just had a soft trial here at Cambridge.

‘‘I was going to take Pop Star Princess down to Hastings for the last day [October 5], but there’s an open 1400m at Te Rapa the day before that could suit her better.

‘‘De Koning will run the same day in the Te Awamutu Cup over 1600m.’’

Both have now won three races apiece.

They make up half the team Cornege has in work and at 70 he is enjoying pottering around with a small team.

The couple have vast experience with different breeds and horses in various roles.

‘‘We’ve had warmbloods, thoroughbreds and done hunting, showjumping and eventing,’’ Cornege said.

‘‘I did two stints with a New Zealand business team in Japan. We had some nice young horses when we were both competing, but it was an expensive sport with a young family and we concentrated on producing and selling them.’’

The couple established Seattle Lodge at Pahiatua.

‘‘We stood Pat’s Victory, Mr Ironclad, Shifnal Prince and Porter Rhodes. It was hard work, but we were going well before the sharemarket crash [in 1987]. That changed everything.’’

They shifted permanently to Cambridge 15 years ago and their services have been wellused for pretraining over the years. But it is as a trainer that Cornege gets the most satisfaction, particularly with the likes of Pop Star Princess. — NZ Racing Desk