Phil and Christine Smith had double the reason to celebrate on Addington Raceway earlier this month when they enjoyed a rare race-to-race double race with a few horses that they not only broke, but also possess and racing.
The Sub-Chairman Howe-Train Duo by Berretini (Sportswriter) and Cormoran Strike (Creatine) The winter months were proponents and their newest exploits not only rewarded their connections with winning checks, but also booked the suitability of both horses in the lucrative $ 60,000 Harness 5000 series final in Ashburton in December.
For the Smiths it was a night to remember. “It was fantastic. Coaster had thrown us away for a few weeks, and of course Cormoran can sometimes disappoint you, then come out and win as he should do. He went better than expected, especially with the run he got. To get two in a row on the night was incredible. We made full use of the winning owners’ laughed.
Few horses in the country have raced as consistently as Cormoran Strike, who picked up his seventh career winning last week. The flashy black squareaiter has been in the money in five of his last eight starts and has raced no less than 25 times this season.
“After he hadn’t gone so well one evening, Coaster changed things around and just worked every week. He thrives on racing. Those 1980 million races don’t hurt him at all. He has been like a small cash flow card and quietly joined the six-digit club,” Christine explained.
But the trainer still believes that there is more in the tank. “Coaster thinks the world of him and knows that he is better than what he has sometimes shown. That is the frustrating – he has more in him, but he doesn’t always show it. That’s just the horse.”
Cormoran Strike Replay
Cormoran Strike is the fourth foal of Fancy Pants (Sundon), who arrived at the ownership of the Smiths by a debt due. “Dennis Price owed us some money and signed her. She let a good first one first. We had some bad luck – one had an accident, another did not succeed. We finally sold her, but we recently received a quick preliminary marefish from a free service that I won during the Fokkersnacht, so that’s how it came to fill.”
Where Cormoran Strike has left his stamp with sustainability, Berretini cuts a path like Pacer that is worth following. The three-year-old became the first male pacer of his age to qualify for the Harness 5000 final after his heavy victory in Addington, who had parked a large part of the 1980m trip before scoring in the half neck under Robbie Close.
“On Friday evening was huge – he remained parked all the way and still grooving to win. He is still green, but he learns,” said Christine.
Berretini comes from one of the most productive mares in the Smiths, Midnight in Paris (Christian Cullen), A three-race winner once trained by Kevin Fairburn. She left six winners of nine foals with racing era, including the Open-Class Pacer Nandolo (Betterwheddar), who has now racet in North America and has received more than $ 1.1 million.
‘We don’t race in Paris in midnight. Trevor Welham owned her and breeding the first foal. When he went abroad, we acquired her. She has been a great Broederij. Paris tends to leave giants, so we went back to Sportswriter Because a smaller father and Berretini turned out to be a damn beautiful horse. “
Coaster Howe judged him high enough to stand in line as a two -year -old, but immaturity stood in the way. “He bonded – only immaturity – so we fiddled him and put him aside for three. This winter he flourished and showed that he is above average.”
Beretini Replay
Of course Berretini’s half -brother Nandolo left the Smiths with some of their pride racing moments. He started in a new -Zeeland cup, placed at group 1 level, and before bleeding his sale, he showed that he could mix it with the elite.
“He gave us some great sensation. Betterwheddar Did it do well with the stock he received and the figures he had. Nandolo’s proof of that. Even this season as an 11-year-old he won six races. We have bred sound horses and he is proof of that. ‘
The Harness 5000 series, designed to reward breeder owners in support of value stallions, has been a timely boost for people such as the Smiths. “It’s a good idea because it can keep some of the smaller breeders in the game – those who breed with a budget but who want to race their horses,” said Christine.
Although they never intend to chase the scheme, their philosophy has always been pragmatic. “The joy of Bettor took itself out of reach – you have to have a very good horse to get your money back. The mares we have are real and they seem to leave winners, so as long as the father is reasonable, they cross well.”
So what is the following? “We will probably look at Kaikoura, his brother Nandolo has won there, maybe Cup week. We can’t just wait for the 5000 final. He is still green, so racing will improve him.”
And with regard to their breeding mood band, the Smiths does not delay. “We would cut it, but mares are hard to shift. Nobody wants them. At the moment we have five, including Happy Harper who goes a tendon and unfortunately to stud. No trotters.”
With a history of producing tough, sound horses and a breeding mood that still tap, the Smiths prove that breeding to race can be just as rewarding as it is sustainable. Last Friday at Addington the evidence was enough: two horses, back-to-back victories and a memory that perseverance-such as the horses self-sum pays.
Their story also extends to two of the open-class trotters from the 2000s, Whatsundermykilt (Sunday) and Glenbogle (Armbro Invasion), both bred and raced in collaboration with Kevin Fairburn. Between them they earned slightly less than $ 1 million in strikes, delivered Group 1 Glory and gave the Smiths unforgettable days on the races, which enabled their reputation as Fokker owners to produce horses that take the distance.
By Brad Reid
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