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Otago return pays off for Waldron
Otago return pays off for Waldron

Otago Daily Times

timea day ago

  • Sport
  • Otago Daily Times

Otago return pays off for Waldron

Joe Waldron and Sarah Fannin with Secret Beau after his win on the Riccarton synthetic yesterday. PHOTO: RACE IMAGES SOUTH Joe Waldron made the perfect start to his New Zealand return yesterday, his first runner back collecting a winning cheque at Riccarton's synthetic meeting. Waldron commenced his training career in Waikato before spending the past six years plying his trade in Victoria, but he has recently returned home to Otago where he trains at Wingatui. He brought half a dozen horses back with him to New Zealand, including Secret Beau, who broke through for his maiden win in convincing fashion when winning the Stallion Tenders Now Open Maiden (1200m). In the hands of Matt Cartwright, the son of I Am Invincible was taken straight to the front, where he was never headed, and he showed his class down the home straight when opening up a significant margin on his rivals, eventually running out a 4½ length victor. Waldron was duly rapt to score with his first runner back, and he was able to celebrate the victory trackside with his partner, Sarah Fannin. "It was really cool," Waldron said. "I thought he would improve with the run as he has had a couple of quiet weeks after he got here. "It didn't surprise me that he was able to win, but he surprised me how he did it because he should still have good improvement coming out of the win." Waldron purchased Secret Beau online in Australia for $A4000 ($NZ4385) and he has proven to be an astute buy, finishing runner-up in both of his Australian starts prior to heading across the Tasman. Cartwright had ridden Secret Beau to his debut runner-up result on Pakenham's synthetic track in June and Waldron was delighted to renew their association at Riccarton yesterday. "We feel very lucky to have someone of his ability riding for us down here," Waldron said. Waldron is loving his time back in New Zealand and said the climate had not been too dissimilar to his former Australian base of Pakenham. - By Joshua Smith — News Desk

Twin wins make Stewart's Oamaru excursion worthwhile
Twin wins make Stewart's Oamaru excursion worthwhile

Otago Daily Times

time31-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Otago Daily Times

Twin wins make Stewart's Oamaru excursion worthwhile

Satin Doll wins at Oamaru on Sunday. Photo: Tayler Strong Leonard Stewart had been looking forward to Sunday's Oamaru meeting with a big team of representatives, and he got the results he was after, collecting a winning double and several other placings. His run of success began in the opener, where Koyama started a narrow second favourite behind Proserve over 2200m. In the hands of Yogesh Atchamah, the son of Almanzor settled into a good rhythm in the trail of Vino Valentino, who looked the one to beat. Atchamah had started his run early on Koyama and swiftly caught the leader, who could not match him as he powered clear to score by two lengths to a late-closing Proserve. Stewart was delighted to get a third win for the season with Koyama, who had not been the easiest to manage since his arrival in the stable in February last year. "He'd had a couple of rough runs where he'd been interfered with, but he got a nice clear run and he came through," Stewart said. "He can be a bit ignorant, this horse, and Yogesh gets along with him well." The 4-year-old had been a $1001 purchase through Gavelhouse after beginning his career in the North Island, and Stewart's other victor, Satin Doll, was sourced for $1432 on the online platform. A mare by Dissident, Satin Doll had shown promise with placings in the north and was on debut for the Stewart barn at Oamaru. Starting at a quote of $20, Satin Doll far exceeded market expectations when she burst through the middle of the pack to salute ahead of her stablemate, Tranquil Eyes. "She's been with us for three months and . . . we've just been cautious of putting her out on a really testing track and flatten her first-up," Stewart said. "She's a very compact little horse and we are still learning about her, so with Gosen's (Jogoo, jockey) experience, he could encounter any problems and work it out in the race. I think he got a bit of a surprise when he asked her to go, and she reacted so well. "She'd been working well and showed potential, so it was great to see her do that." Jogoo, who is also in the ownership of Koyama, piloted Queen Of Kings and Lise Paree into second placings. Based just up State Highway 1 at Washdyke, Stewart was able to appreciate the condition of the Oamaru track, despite constant rain through the winter period. "Oamaru have got a great committee and they've done plenty of work with the track. They've put a big drain in along the bend out of the straight, and over by the hill, which I think has made a big difference." — News Desk By Jess de Lautour

McCarthy to ride champion
McCarthy to ride champion

Otago Daily Times

time31-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Otago Daily Times

McCarthy to ride champion

Trainer Mark Oulaghan has called on one of Australia's leading jumps jockeys to partner West Coast as the outstanding jumper heads south in pursuit of a historic fourth consecutive Grand National crown. West Coast has been partnered in each of his 11 steeplechase victories by Shaun Fannin, who will race against the son of Mettre En Jeu in Saturday's Koral Steeplechase (4250m) aboard his own horse, Jesko. With Fannin unavailable, Oulaghan has secured the services of Willie McCarthy, an Irish hoop based in Victoria. McCarthy is no stranger to high-pressure races, and winning them, having guided the likes of Stern Idol, Duke Of Bedford and Wil John to feature victories across the Tasman. — News Desk

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