10-08-2025
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
