Taking trotting club reins amid review
RACING
RACHEL Pullar has found herself in the hot seat.
Pullar, a former New Zealand cricketer, has just taken on the role of chief executive of Forbury Park Trotting Club, replacing Della Henderson.
Forbury Park is like all racing clubs in Otago and Southland in taking part in a full racing review overseen by Racing New Zealand.
Pullar (43) said the review was a big step in the future of racing in the area.
‘‘It is significant for Forbury Park and all the other codes in the region. For us, we will be fully focused on the review in the next wee while,’’ she said.
‘‘Ultimately, that review will give the future direction for the industry. But it won’t stop Forbury Park from planning for the future.’’
She could not speculate on what would be in the review.
Australian business consultancy Sapere was conducting the review on behalf of Racing NZ and OtagoSouthland was the first area it was working in. The review would eventually be conducted right throughout the country.
‘‘The industry is in a massive state of change at the moment up and down the country and it is critical this is done right.’’
She was due to meet representatives from Sapere in the next week.
Puller played more than 50 internationals for the White Ferns from 1997 to 2005. She has been on the Otago Cricket
Association board for the past year.
Although she did not have a big background in harness racing, she had a talented team around her which provided valuable input, she said.
She said due to the racing calendar being set year on year, no club in the country could guarantee it would get dates for next year.
Forbury Park had initially received no dates for the 202021 draft calendar, but that had been changed to 10 dates when the final calendar was released.
Although happy with 10 dates, she said it was not enough for the club to be viable.
WELLINGTON: Wingatui trainers Brian and Shane Anderton will take eight horses south to Ascot Park today and believe they can go home with a few cheques.
Fivewin gelding Our Teddy Boy will jump from barrier 7 in the in the rating 74 1400m handicap, carrying 57kg with the assistance of apprentice jockey Rahul Beeharry’s 3kg claim.
The son of Onceuponatime has placed in three of his past four starts after winning at Gore in August and his trainers are hoping he can end his preparation on a high.
“He is a wettrack horse and we hope we get the sting out of the ground. He is well in himself,” Brian Anderton said.
“He is going to go out shortly but he has been doing things right.”
At the start of the day, Anderton will lineup inform mare Phyllite in a 1200m maiden.
“Phyllite, she is a fast mare. We are hoping she goes as well as she has been. Every race she has had, she has gone well.
“She has got a good barrier draw [five] and has everything in her favour and I don’t think the soft ground will worry her too much.”
Stablemate Regal Girl will make her debut in the another 1200m maiden and Anderton said it would be more of an educational outing for the mare.
Anderton’s other runners are Crispin and Heberite in the rating 74 2215m handicap, Avino in the 1400m maiden, Step Son in the 1600m maiden and Dante Fire in a rating 65 1600m race.
“Crispin and Heberite are both wettrack horses, so they will head out shortly,” Anderton said.
“Step Son has been disappointing up until now. We are hoping for a bit of a turnaround with him.
“Avino’s biggest problem is the barrier draw [16], she is drawn out a little bit. But she is an honest wee horse and she will have her foot on the till shortly.
“And it might be short enough for Dante Fire, but you have got to have a starting point somewhere.” – NZ Racing Desk