Since racing was a big part of their lives, Damian Love decided to commemorate and honor his father and mother in a special way.
He named two foals after them.
The four-year-old trotter Neil William (Vincentius) is in memory of his father and Lieve Maureen (Dear Lou), a two-year-old pacing filly, is named after his mother.
“We lost both our parents within three months,” says Canterbury-based Love, “and I had to name the two foals, so I thought it would be appropriate.”
Neil William, bred by Neil and Damian Love, will make his Addington debut today in Race 3, the Hagley Windows and Doors Trot (5.08pm).
Although Neil William had clearly been bred for pacing (by Vincent), he had always shown a tendency to trot.
“He never liked bumps and Sam Payne overtook him as a trotter,” Love says.
Payne is training and will ride the horse tonight.
“We really hope he gets around and trots well – he has a lot of ability and a nice engine,” says Love, “he has tested well and Sam is happy with him.”
After two seconds at the trials (Rangiora – October 9 and Ashburton – July 22) Neil William is a seconds favorite at $3.40.
“We hope for the best and he will improve a lot over the next 12 months.”
Neil William and the unraced Sweet Maureen are the eighth and ninth foals from the Loves broodmare Lecerne Lil.
She achieved two victories while trained by Andrew Stuart in 2004. Now retired from breeding, she has produced nine foals. The first seven to compete have all been winners.
The highly talented Deny Everything recorded eight wins, including the 2023 Timaru Summer Cup, and five in a row between 2019 and 2021, while Lil Miss Muscles claimed four as a trotter. She is currently pregnant with Tactical Approach.
“That mare has quite a double gait,” says Love.
“One of the foals (Forgot To Remember) won as a trotter and pacer, while another (Indefinite) won as a pacer and placed as a trotter.”
As well as being a breeder and owner, Love has also trained two winners (War George on Banks Peninsula in 2008 and Get It On on Geraldine in 2022) as well as completing seven race day trials.
He puts together a small team from Charing Cross that he combines with his job as a printer.
To see the field for Race 3 in Addington tonight click here
Through Dave Di Sommafor Harness News Desk
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