McCullum celebrates twice after Passing Shot success
Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum may have been battered and bruised but he had a double victory to celebrate in Auckland last Saturday night.
While McCullum steered his side to a nail-biting win over Australia in the World Cup match at Eden Park, his horse Passing Shot staved off a strong late bid from Red Striker to take the Gr III $70,000 BMW Mr Tiz Trophy at Ellerslie.
Passing Shot and rider Opie Bosson were returning to the winner’s enclosure about the same time New Zea- landers were celebrating the Black Caps fifth Australian wicket for less than 100 runs.
Passing Shot is raced by the Go Racing The Ace Syndicate, of which McCullum and team mate Grant Elliot are members along with former Black Cap James Franklin.
And the fight both Passing Shot and McCullum showed to record their victories was similar.
Out at Eden Park, McCullum copped a fierce blow to his left forearm when on 22 runs, but after a few minutes to recover he continued with his arm swollen and bandaged to record his third half-century of the World Cup 50. His innings came off 24 balls and included seven fours and three sixes.
McCullum remained to support his team and is expected to be fit to lead New Zealand against Afghanistan in Napier next weekend.
McCullum’s drive to succeed was similar to the determination Passing Shot showed at Ellerslie when completing a hat-trick of wins.
‘‘He did over-raced a fraction, but he put his ears back and fought right to the line,’’ Bosson said.
‘‘He’s a natural sprinter and built like it and he should go on with it.’’
Now Passing Shot, like McCullum, has another major goal in sight, the Gr III $100,000 Hardy Trade Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham on March 14.
Though Passing Shot’s wins have been up to 1300m, trainer Stephen McKee believes the 1400m at Trentham should now be within his range.
He has raced over 1400 on four occasions for three placings, including a second to Volkstok’n’barrell in last September’s Gr III Manuka Doctor Bonecrusher Stakes and a fourth as a two-year-old in the Gr I Oaks Stud Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.