After commanding Diamonds Day win, Jumal has trainer, driver in his thrall
There is only going to be one argument between Steven Reid and Samantha Ottley after Jumal's Group 1 win on Diamonds Day.
The 2-year-old justified his red-hot favouritism on Sunday with a brilliant win in the Diamond Creek Farm Classic at Ascot Park.
While Reid and Ottley are in agreement on Jumal being a classy customer, the pair are yet to agree on who is the bigger fan of the exciting youngster.
"I think Steven thinks he's his No1 fan, but no, I certainly am," Ottley said.
"He is just a wee gem. For having three starts, he is just such a wee professional.
"If you look at him now, you wouldn't even know he has had a race."
Ottley's high opinion of Jumal was part of the reason the reinswoman took no chances in Sunday's Group 1 feature.
After runner-up Freeze Frame took the lead off the favourites early, Ottley immediately retook the front.
"I thought on paper he was the best horse in the field, so I thought I would take luck out of it.
"I knew he would be good in front or in behind."
Reid and Ottley have formed a winning association in the months since the trainer moved from Auckland to Canterbury.
The reinswoman was full of praise for the trainer, who has unearthed yet another star pacer in Jumal.
"You get a lot of confidence driving for Steven," Ottley said.
"He has his horses ready to go and they're very, very sharp.
"I have been lucky not just to drive for this fellow, but I have had a few winners for him, and I hope it can continue."
Jumal is raced by Malcolm Wrigley from Reid's old stomping ground in Pukekohe.
The northern owner, who made the trip south to take in Jumal's Group 1 triumph, shares in the ownership of the pacer with Reid's partner, Bella Storer.
Ottley and Reid contributed to a special result for the Dawe family on Diamonds Day with Rakero Lightning.
The pacer ran second to Midnight Babe in Sunday's opener, both horses raced by Dawe Contracting.
The quinella came days after the death of Ray Dawe, who owned both Dawe Contracting and Rakero Racing Stables alongside Ronnie and Kevin Dawe.
Midnight Babe is by champion sire Bettor's Delight from the outstanding former race mare Beaudiene Bad Babe, who won the Group 2 Southern Oaks Final on Diamonds Day in 2009.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
05-08-2025
- Otago Daily Times
'There's a few lefties having a sulk': Christchurch to host controversial backyard brawl
A screenshot from a previous event, held in May in Auckland. Image: Youtube UFC fighter Dan Hooker is taking his controversial backyard brawls to another level, this time inviting 32 convicted criminals to battle it out for a $50,000 prize. The UFC lightweight courted controversy in May when he hosted his inaugural 32-man, one-minute fist fight tournament in Auckland, dubbed "king of the streets". It saw a senior Mongrel Mob member referred to police, as he was wearing an ankle bracelet. The event prompted New Zealand's Boxing Coaches Association president Billy Meehan to call the event "straight-out thuggery". Following the backlash, Hooker went on the on-line combat sport programme the Ariel Helwani Show, and vowed to host more events. "There's a few lefties having a sulk, but once everyone watches the full 45 minutes and sees the respect for the fighters, since when did putting gloves on in the backyard and having a punch up become illegal?" he said. "Since when is that a crime?" Hooker claims the events, where fighters take part in a boxing-style fight, and wear MMA gloves, are run by some of the most experienced combat sports people in the country. Dan Hooker Photo: Facebook A month ago the 35-year-old held an event for women to fight it out for $50,000. In a social media post, Hooker said his next event would take place in seven weeks in Christchurch and would be livestreamed. Hooker said the event was for "convicts only" and will be capped with a 100kg weight limit. The caption reads: "This one's for the lads the system failed." The video on Instagram has received more than 24,000 likes. People are encouraged to contact Hooker with their details if they are interested. A dedicated Instagram page showing clips of past backyard scraps was created a week ago and has more than 54,000 followers, leaving Hooker feeling "pumped" and "excited for the future." The prize money is funded by a social media influencer, known as 'The Doctor', who shares streaming and gambling videos.
Otago Daily Times
05-08-2025
- Otago Daily Times
'Convicts only': Chch to host controversial backyard brawl
A screenshot from a previous event, held in May in Auckland. Image: Youtube UFC fighter Dan Hooker is taking his controversial backyard brawls to another level, this time inviting 32 convicted criminals to battle it out for a $50,000 prize. The UFC lightweight courted controversy in May when he hosted his inaugural 32-man, one-minute fist fight tournament in Auckland, dubbed "king of the streets". It saw a senior Mongrel Mob member referred to police, as he was wearing an ankle bracelet. The event prompted New Zealand's Boxing Coaches Association president Billy Meehan to call the event "straight-out thuggery". Following the backlash, Hooker went on the on-line combat sport programme the Ariel Helwani Show, and vowed to host more events. "There's a few lefties having a sulk, but once everyone watches the full 45 minutes and sees the respect for the fighters, since when did putting gloves on in the backyard and having a punch up become illegal?" he said. "Since when is that a crime?" Hooker claims the events, where fighters take part in a boxing-style fight, and wear MMA gloves, are run by some of the most experienced combat sports people in the country. Dan Hooker Photo: Facebook A month ago the 35-year-old held an event for women to fight it out for $50,000. In a social media post, Hooker said his next event would take place in seven weeks in Christchurch and would be livestreamed. Hooker said the event was for "convicts only" and will be capped with a 100kg weight limit. The caption reads: "This one's for the lads the system failed." The video on Instagram has received more than 24,000 likes. People are encouraged to contact Hooker with their details if they are interested. A dedicated Instagram page showing clips of past backyard scraps was created a week ago and has more than 54,000 followers, leaving Hooker feeling "pumped" and "excited for the future." The prize money is funded by a social media influencer, known as 'The Doctor', who shares streaming and gambling videos.
Otago Daily Times
31-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Butt determined to lead with Bet N Win
Bob Butt has a plan. The top Kiwi horseman is heading into his first Interdominion final drive with serious intent aboard young trotting star Bet N Win at Albion Park on Saturday night. Bet N Win has drawn gate 5 in the $A500,000 ($NZ548,000) final but will move into gate 4 if emergency Sir Fahrenheit does not get a run, while main danger Arcee Phoenix has the pole. "It's a good draw but not great with Arcee Phoenix drawn one," Butt said. "I have to have a crack for a lead and ask more of my horse at the start than I ever have before. "It could go a long way to deciding who wins the race. "All series, we've seen the huge advantage of being on the markers' pegs at Albion Park." While Bet N Win has run to the front from similar draws in both heats, Butt said he did not know just how far out the 5-year-old could be. "No, because I've basically let him run to the front rather than ask him every time he's led so far. I'm sure there's more speed there, but just how much is the question. "This is the time to find out. It's a $500,000 race and we've got a good draw. I have to give it a serious crack to try and lead." Butt said Bet N Win's professionalism gave him the confidence to be daring at the start. "He's a great racehorse, almost your perfect racehorse," he said. "A lot of horses you'd be worried about pushing them off the gate hard, but not him. "You can use him early and then he'll just spit the bit out and relax again. It's probably his greatest quality. "Even if I go hard this week and don't get across, he'll relax in the running line and be somewhere handy." Butt, who is back in New Zealand with his team and returns to Brisbane tomorrow, said it was a huge buzz just being part of his first Interdominion. "Absolutely, in so many ways," he said. "Obviously Bet N Win's preparation couldn't have gone better and he won both races comfortably. "But also just to be part of a series with so much history and one I grew up watching and dreaming of winning. "Lyell Creek's win [Moonee Valley in 2000] is the first one I really remember. How could you not love that?" The other New Zealand trotting finalist, Oscar Bonavena, has landed gate 12 after being ruled out of the draw following another gallop in his second-round heat. "It's a good thing. He seems to make his mistakes when he's off the front," co-trainer Nathan Purdon said. "We thrilled he managed to sneak into the final and we know he's good enough to be right in the finish if he gets it all right." — HRNZ By Adam Hamilton
