The Ohaupo-based rider will field Stone Cold in Race 6, the $60,000 A Team Construction Mobile Trot.
Four-year-old Wishing Stone is one of the few northern horses to have made the journey south. Their scheduled Wednesday flight was canceled, although all horses arrived safely 24 hours later.
“I was worried about that for a while,” says Teaz, “but it didn’t affect my horse.”
Teaz bought Stone Cold at the 2022 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch for $8000. To date he has won four races and just over $50,000 in stakes.
But until now he has never driven further than Auckland.
Before the big race it will be stabled with Colin and Julie DeFilippi, just outside Christchurch.
“He jumps around and can get a little excited,” says Teaz, “he’s a bit of a kid.”
But the talent is clearly there.
After winning his last three starts at Alexandra Park, Stone Cold is a $5.50 third favorite behind the coveted Donna’s Boy and Bring On The Muscle on Sunday.
Part of Teaz’s fear is that Stone Cold can be a bit unpredictable and he hopes the big event doesn’t happen to him.
“I don’t think I can see the first 200 meters!”
“Donna’s Boy definitely has gate speed, so he’ll probably get an edge.”
“I’m nervous before every race, but now I’m nervous as hell,” he says.
By saying that the gelding does have one placement from two starts behind the mobile arm.
“When he’s at the top, they know he’s in the race,” Teaz said. “I just want him to show people what we know he has to offer.”
“Win or lose, my guy will be dating for two to three months after the race, so this is his grand finale.”
The 12-race Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 meeting starts at 11:55 a.m. with Stone Cold’s race at 2:10 p.m.
Harness 5000 is only open to trotters and pacers whose sire paid an advertised retail price of $5,000 or less during the breeding season of conception.
There will be $60,000 finals for 3YO, 4YO and 5YO and older mares and colts, geldings and wholes for both courses. They are all limited to a field size of 14 runners and will be mobile over 1700 meters.
For full race entries, click here.
By means of Dave Di SommaHarness News Desk
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