US legend nails his first win
Regan Todd has always had an opinion of threeyear-old trotting filly Show Gait and it increased tenfold on Friday night.
The Woodend Beach trainer lined up his latest discovery for the second time at the Addington meeting and threw an extra curveball when he tossed the reins to visiting American Hall of Fame driver, David Miller.
But the well-bred square-gaiter made light work of it all – winning impressively to remain unbeaten in two career starts and gave Miller his first win on New Zealand soil.
‘‘It was a privilege to have a guy
David on,’’ Todd said.
‘‘He handled her well, too; didn’t panic and just enjoyed it really.’’
Show Gait is a daughter of Majestic Son and Sierra Roydon and was one of three horses who arrived at Todd’s North Canterbury stable straight from the Rolleston barn of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.
Hicori, who won on debut at Omakau earlier this month, was one of the others while the third is currently jogging up.
‘‘Mark and Natalie liked all three of they just didn’t quite have the time needed.
‘‘It was an honour to get that call to train them and hopefully the luck can continue the same way for a while to come yet.’’
Show Gait won on debut at Timaru in the slush earlier in the month - and while many struggle with the rise from maiden status to the next level, she never shirked the challenge after sitting threewide for most of the last 800 metres.
‘‘She’s got a bit of bottom to her and if we can keep her calm and sane there will be a bit of fun ahead.’’
It was revealed post-race, that her third quarter was the fastest ever ran for a 1950-metre mobile at Addington by any trotter - which put a further stamp on the performance.
Todd has no choice now but to plot a path to the three-year-old trotting features for owner, Cheryl Rasmussen.
‘‘Races like the Derby and they would suit her.
‘‘She’s paid up for have a good look.’’
Miller, who is in New Zealand on a working holiday, drove at Alexandra Park last Friday night but his steer on Show Gait was his first Addington Raceway.
The legendary reinsman will notch up a new first on Sunday when he makes an appearance at Motukarara for a busy day in the sulky on the grass track.
Exciting Canterbury three-year-old Beachbabebeauty is about to join the all-conquering Gary Hall stable in Perth.
The son of Somebeachsomewhere is a winner of three of his five career starts for trainers Ken and Tony Barron.
He recently resumed from a spell with an easy win at Oamaru January 10 and was originally in the fields for Addington’s meeting this week, but has been scratched.
But clients of Hall’s stable came knocking last week and his owners, Dunedin accountant Steve Thompson and longtime Barron stable client Grant Dickey, accepted a sizeable offer.
Beachbabebeauty is the first foal of four-time Group 1-winning mare O Baby and he was the third highest priced lot at the 2016 Christchurch yearling sale at $136,000.
Hall is best known as the trainer of champion Im Themightyquinn as well as stars Chicago Bull and My Hard Copy.
Fellow West Melton three-year-old When I See You is also scratched from his Addington engagement this evening, with a sale to American interests in the works. the everything, the too, calibre Oaks seem so we of them, but that they like will former current