Pulley full of optimism for harness racing in New Zealand

Canterbury breeder Simon Pulley is full of optimism for harness racing in New Zealand.

As a young lad living on the West Belt in Rangiora close to the racecourse, Simon always had an interest in horses.

“My parents built a house on forestry land so there were trees between us and the racecourse. I remember walking across when the races were on. Way back then (30 years ago) there used to be a traffic jam all the way down West Belt with people going to the races,” he said.

From there his love and admiration for racehorses developed. “I was in awe (of them)with all their gear on, and what they would do for man.”

Pulley attended Ashgrove Primary School and Rangiora High. All the way through his schooling he dreamed of buying a horse one day, and making a bob or two on a punt.

Being the eldest in his family Simon had a close connection to his grandfather Jack.

“I used to sneak over there, meet up with my grandfather and get some of the old diggers to put a bet on for me. You’d walk into his kitchen and there was always the racing page, Turf Digest, his rollies, cigarette papers and the radio going with the races on.”

At just fourteen he had his first big collect.

“I picked a horse to win putting a win bet on only, and two other horses for a place, backing them for a place only. I took a quinella and a trifecta with the horses in order. It came in exactly like that. My grandad called over his mates and said, ‘have a look at this boy.’

As a young man Simon became a builder, following in his father’s footsteps. He also played rugby league for the Rangiora Rhinos and the Kaiapoi Bulldogs.

“I used to go to Addington with my coach and some of the boys. Especially during Cup Week.”

During this time he developed an interest in bees. “Dad was doing an alteration for a beekeeper and that’s how he got into bees. I was always interested in them so that worked out quite well.”

Over a period of time his father developed three different types of cancer, surviving them all. While he was in hospital receiving treatment Simon took it on his own shoulders to grow the bee business.

“I got the two hives he had at home and grew the numbers every year.”

Fast forwarding to today, Bee Buzz Apiaries (2001) which Simon owns, has over 7,000 acres of high country manuka land, and 2,000 hives.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing. In 2016 Simon was showing two people around his Puhi Puhi property when the driver of the vehicle lost control going up a steep ridge, slid backwards over the ridge, and over a bank.

Simon says it was a miracle they survived. He was thrown from the vehicle, pinned to the ground by a tree, had to be cut free and was airlifted to hospital with multiple injuries. He was in hospital for a month before coming home in a wheelchair.

Simon now fifty, lives in Oxford with his partner Emma whom he met fourteen years ago. He has four children, Jade, Summer, Shaylyn, and Cruz.

With the business trucking along Simon decided it was time to follow his dream and get into horses.

“I thought, I’m not leaving it any longer. When I got into it I just loved it. I seem to get more excited than anyone else.”

His first racing venture was as part of a syndicate with Graeme Taylor and a horse trained by Benny Hill.

“She didn’t do very well. Graeme didn’t want her, so I took her and I’ve bred a couple of foals out of her.”

The slow start didn’t deter Pulley. He wanted to buy into good quality stock so he went to the 2021 sales with Woodend Beach trainer Regan Todd. They were looking to buy a Bettor’s Delight filly out of Art Major mare Tuapeka Art, being offered by John and Judy Stiven from Arden Lodge.

He didn’t have quite enough capital to buy the filly as she was bought by Brent Mangos for $82,500 but he did buy another of Arden Lodge’s yearlings – Divine Arden (Art Major – Real Wings) for $27,000.

“It was while I was in the box with John looking at the filly (Art Major – Tuapeka Art) that we got talking and I said I also bred chickens and he said WHAT!”

Simon specialises in breeding North Island Blues and Leg Horns and the Stivens late son Lee also bred chickens so an immediate bond between the two families was formed.

“They just grabbed me, hugged me, and we were all in tears. I’d only known them for an hour.”

Also at that sale he bought On Top Of The World (Art Major-Princess Of Diamonds) for $15,000. She’s recently qualified for Regan Todd at Ashburton.

He says Divine Arden will take a bit more time. “She’s a big girl. She’s had a few preps, she’s still growing and has a lot to learn.”

Co-incidentally Todd bought a Real Wings Lazarus colt at this year’s sale for $70,000.

“He told me he’s going really well and says it’s probably the best of the yearlings he bought.”

Since then, Pulley has been gifted Real Wings whom he plans to have served by Lazarus.

“I might take the foal to the Sales and get $150,000 (laughter).”

When speaking with Simon you get the sense he has a real connection with all animals.

“I was out bee keeping the other day and I had thirty cows hanging around with their heads nearly in the hives. I have a cat that sits at home waiting for me to come home and then follows me round like a dog. He’d follow me from here to Oamaru.”

Over time Pulley has acquired nine broodmares and while others are getting out, he’s getting in, full of enthusiasm for the sport.

His mares are: Shimma (Mach Three – Kotare Tayla), Kelly Maguire (Christian Cullen – Flash Atom), Speights Girl (Mach Three – Exotic Lover), Real Wings (Badlands Hanover – Tuapeka Wings), Arden’s Rockstar (Rocknroll Hanover – Arden’s Darlin), Evelyn Ashford (Rocknroll Hanover – Gail Devers), Hot Off the Press (Bettor’s Delight – Classical) and Jean Genie (Mach Three – Flo Jo).

All of his horses reside at Wai Eyre Stud. It was there that a Terror To Love filly took a liking to Simon.

“I was in the paddock trying to pat my horses and this horse kept coming over to me all the time and booting my horses out of the way. When I visited Wai Eyre the next time, she wouldn’t leave me alone. She came all the way to the gate saying, ‘pick me – can you do something with me?’ People don’t believe that, but horses are clever.”

Finally, Simon relented. “I’d sold a few chickens, some honey and other bits and pieces so I had $700 in my truck. I said to Daryl (Brown), I’ll give you $700 for that horse. The deal was done out the window of the truck. When I told Regan he thought I was mad but about a month later he rang me and said she was going alright. I said to Regan ‘this horse loves it.

We’ve given her a purpose after she felt like she was a nothing.”

By February and renamed, Theresa Love was off to the workouts at Rangiora, winning on her first outing. She repeated the dose the following week.

“She was beating $130,000 horses. I had John Dunn on because he had one of them. Regan was cracking up.”

A week later at the same venue she qualified, but unfortunately her race day debut had to be put on hold.

“She was hanging out coming down the straight and Robbie (Close) came back and said there was something wrong with her. They sent her to the vets, and she had a stress fracture of her femur. Lisa Orange looked after her at Ken Barron’s place, she was in a box for six to eight weeks and then she was in the paddock for another month.”

After coming back into work Todd fitted her with two workouts at Rangiora in August and she made her race day debut at Ashburton on 4th September where she was sent out favourite. She settled back, moved forward at the 500, was five wide at the turn and charged home. When she got to the finish line in front of the field she unfortunately broke and was relegated to fourth.

But twelve days later she was back at the races at Addington. Close took her to the front and she held on to beat Bold Medley by a head.

After the race and an interview with Nigel Armstrong who has a Facebook page called Harness Racing Unhinged, they all headed off to the owner’s bar picking up a few mates on the way to help with the celebrations. Ken Barron, Jack Harrington, Ged Mooar (Nevele R) Cameron Grant and Stacey White (Woodlands Stud) were in the party.

THERESA LOVE REPLAY

It’s in Armstrong’s interview that most of us first saw the excited Simon Pulley.

“People are enjoying my enthusiasm,” he said.

With horses named Shewonmeover, I’m In and Bee My Miki that enthusiasm is likely to continue.

He’s also excited about a Bettor’s Delight yearling colt out of Solandra called Light Me Up which he owns in partnership. He’s a full brother to Samhara (5 wins) and a half to Samskara (1-53.9). Light Me Up was bought at last year’s yearling sale for $150,000.

Regardless of the highs that are still likely come his way in the future, one thing’s for sure.

Theresa Love will always hold a special place in this man’s big animal loving heart.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink