Smedley ridden the way he needs to be
MEMORIES of Dick Stevenson were revived when Smedley blew away hot favourite Candle In The Wind in Saturday’s Whangarei Cup.
The popular Northland trainer passed away in 2014 but his memory lives on through horses raced by his wife Clare and son Clayton who trains horses bred by his father.
They include the tough 7-year-old Columbia gelding, who has now won seven races.
Much credit for his latest win rests on jockey Lee Magorrian who rode a canny race.
Magorrian has ridden Smedley a number of times and knows him better than most and realises the oldtimer needs a reminder of his obligations.
Magorrian hustled the horse out of the gates and sent him forward before relinquishing the pace to Canterino. As planned it woke the horse’s ideas up and put his mind on the job.
When Michael Coleman sent Candle In The Wind on a wide searching run which took the mare to the front, it seemed punters were in the money.
But Magorrian had the final say, driving Smedley hard along the rail to snatch an exciting victory.
‘‘It was a good ride from Lee. He knows the horse well and he put him in the race,’’ Stevenson said.
Earlier on the card, Illuminati won the open 1400 to firm up plans for a trip to Riccarton for the Winter Cup.
‘‘She had to do that today to justify a trip south,’’ said trainer Ben Foote.
Apprentice Viktoria Gatu took her record to an amazing five wins on Illuminati. Included was victory in the same Ruakaka race last year but Gatu had to watch Rosie Myers guide the Keeper mare to second in the Winter Cup a fortnight later.
She has her fingers crossed she gets the call to go south this time.