Morrellmac’s special Waikato win
Hardy Bluff oysterman Willie Calder had a lump in his throat when one of his horses, named after his good mate who passed away in 2015, won a race in the Waikato.
The horse, Morrellmac, is named after Morrell McKenzie, who died after his truck went over the edge of a wharf at South Port.
Morrell owned McKenzie Marine and Mackraft Ltd with his brother Peter and was a Bluff identity prior to his death. Peter now runs the business, which specialises in building jetboats.
Morrellmac was racing at Te Awamutu recently and having his second race start.
Willie, at home in Arrowtown, and Morrell’s widow Jane, attending a 70th birthday party in Gore, watched the race on television.
When Morrellmac took the lead in the home straight, the cheers got louder and emotions kicked in.
‘‘I had a lump in my throat thinking of Morrell,’’ Willie says.
‘‘We want to keep his memory alive.’’
‘‘It was very emotional in many ways ... and so exciting,’’ Jane said.
‘‘It was such an honour to have the horse named after Morrell.’’
Morrell’s brother, Peter, and Willie’s wife, Karen, missed the race.
Peter was out with his grandchildren but was ‘‘stoked’’ to hear the horse had won. Karen, a part-owner of Morrellmac, was in China with daughter Anna.
Among the well-wishers to congratulate Willie and the McKenzies was well-known former Southland cricketer Michael ‘‘Gorse’’ Anderson, now living in Australia.
Willie contacted Jane in September to ask if it would be okay to name a horse after Morrell.
Morrellmac’s trainer, Robert Priscott, was expecting the 3-yearold gelding to race well at Te Awamutu but when the track turned to heavy he wasn’t too sure.
‘‘He was a bit flighty [in early training] but with a couple of races, he’s come right,’’ Priscott, of Te Awamutu, says.
Priscott is thinking about starting Morrellmac in the $100,000 Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa (Hamilton) on October 23. Long term, the $1 million New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie (Auckland) in March is a target.
Willie says he will ’’definitely’’ be trackside at Te Rapa.
Peter McKenzie is not a race- goer but when time allows, he would be interested in combining a trip north to visit members of his family with being on course to watch Morrellmac race.
‘‘I’ve never been to a TAB in my life,’’ Peter says.
‘‘Morrell and I made a great team, we complimented each other. He was a huge loss for family and friends.’’
Morrell did general maintenance and serviced the hydraulics on Willie’s oyster boats for more than 30 years.
‘‘Right from when he left school,’’ Willie says.
‘‘He could fix anything. If we needed a part and it would take a while to get one, he’d make the part.’’
If a boat returned from fishing late at night and in need of repair, Morrell would have it fixed before Willie and his crew arrived the next day at 4am.
‘‘When he did it, he did it right ... never did patch up work. He was Bluff’s best and hardest worker.’’
As well as building jetboats, Morrell raced them in the 1980s-90s. Morrell [driving] and Jane (navigator) teamed up to win the World Jet Sprint Championships and New Zealand Jet Sprint Championships.
Racehorse Morrellmac was born at Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, and after he was weaned, was sent to The Oaks Stud in the Waikato to graze.
Clayton Chipperfield educated Morrellmac at Te Awamutu before the gelding joined Robert Priscott’s stable.
Morrellmac was unplaced in a trial at Te Awamutu in July and finished fourth in his first race start at Te Rapa in September.
Morrellmac was not the only success Willie had last weekend. He scored as a breeder when Morrellmac’s half-sister, Avantage, won the 2-year-old race at Riccarton.
Willie sold Avantage to Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $210,000 at the Karaka sales in January.
Morrellmac and Avantage’s dam, Asavant, won three races, including the Warstep Stakes at Riccarton and an open handicap at the Wellington Cup meeting.
Asavant’s dam, Pins ‘N’ Needles, won six races for Willie and was second in the $200,000 Thorndon Mile at Trentham. She won the Timaru Cup and White Robe Robe Lodge Stakes (Wingatui).
Willie’s jumper, Willywince, triumphed in a maiden steeplechase at Te Rapa in 2004.
Shearing awards
Southland shearers have performed well in the second round of the PGG Wrightson Wool National Shearing Circuit in Waimate on Saturday. Winton shearer Troy Pyper has been ranked as number 1 after the second round, which all-but assures he will make the 12-man cut for the Golden Shears on March 3.
(pictured), of Invercargill, has placed third-equal with Grant Smith, of Rakaia, Ringakaha Paewai, of Gore, placed sixth-equal, Andy Mainland, of Invercargill placed ninth and Leon Samuels, of Invercargill, placed 15th equal.
Lotto players win $200k
Five Lotto players have won $200,000 each with First Division in Saturday’s draw. The winners were from Winton, Auckland, Waikato, Waimate and Dunedin. Winton’s winning ticket was sold at the Winton New World.
Crash near Wyndham
Emergency services were called to a crash near Wyndham where two people were reported to have serious injuries. A police spokeswoman said the vehicle crashed off the road of Mokoreta-Tahakopa Rd about 4.35pm yesterday. A helicopter was called to the scene, the police spokeswoman said.
Win at awards
Southland Hairdressers had great results at this year’s NZ Association of Registered Hairdressers Hair Stylist of the Year in Hamilton this month. Fred and Gingers owner Natasha King won the Southland Association of Registered Hairdressers editorial stylist winner as well as being named editorial stylist of the year. Southern Institute of Technology student Kammy Corbin, who also works at Do Hair, was presented with editorial stylist novice winner. Alisha Loach won the senior night hair award and Rachel Tong won the next generation cut award. Both women are hairdressers at Fred and Gingers.
Police seek man
Invercargill police are looking for 23-year-old Lemeyal Peneruki Wanakore-Wilson on warrants to arrest. Anyone who has seen or has information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police.
Emergency discussion
Emergency Management Southland is holding a public meeting Gore tonight. The discussion will cover what to do in an emergency and how to make sure family and friends are prepared. It will be held at James Cumming Wing, on Civic Ave, at 7.30pm.
Person injured
Emergency services freed one person trapped in their car for more than an hour on Saturday. The sole occupant of the vehicle, who became trapped after crashing the car in Mosgiel, near Dunedin, was taken to Dunedin Hospital with serious injuries. Police initially said two people were trapped after the ‘‘serious crash’’ at the intersection of Tirohanga Rd and Outram-Mosgiel Rd at 3pm. They have since advised only one person was involved. No other cars were involved in the crash, and traffic was being diverted around the scene.
Car vs parked car
Police were called to a crash between a car and a parked van on Gloucester St, Waikiwi, about 2.25pm yesterday. No-one was injured.