Raupunga Lad on the comeback

Unbeaten harness racing pacer Raupunga Lad (Raging Bull) is on the comeback.

“He’s been back in just over a month and he’s looking real good,” said trainer Brent McIntyre.

The now four year old began his racing career in stunning style, winning by nine and a half lengths on the Central Southland Raceway in Winton in August for Riversdale trainer Brent McIntyre.

Two weeks later he was up at Addington and although he won by a length and a quarter, he showed signs of not being at his best when he got on one rein coming down the straight.

His third win was at the Northern Southland meeting four weeks later and despite winning, the margin was just half a length with the horse noticeably not at his best again. This win was achieved by raw ability.

Afterwards it was decided to put him out to pasture for a good break. 

“He wasn’t a well horse and had lightened up. It took him a good month to turn things around. I was pretty sure he was going through a growth spurt at the time.”

McIntyre says the four year old is still four to six weeks away from doing anything serious.

“He was a late starter and he’s a bit of a greenhorn having only had three starts. He’s being left to mature and hopefully his brain has matured as well.”

Raupunga Lad was bred by Neil Timms and is named after a small settlement in the North Island inland from Wairoa in the Hawkes Bay.

Neil Timms and Neil Manson go to the Hawkes Bay to buy their dogs. “Neil’s son Tom now farms at Raupunga and breeds championship sheep dogs. Neil’s getting on a bit now but he’s a hardcase,” said McIntyre. 

On the same theme, Raupunga Lad’s two year old half brother Putere Boy (Ultimate Machete) is named after a town in the same area. 

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink