Boyd makes a rare appearance at Westport

When going through tomorrow afternoon’s harness racing fields for the Westport meeting at Patterson Park, one name in particular caught the eye as someone not often sighted on the West Coast circuit.

That was Canterbury trainer, Stephen Boyd, who with three runners engaged across Friday’s eleven race programme confirmed it had been many moons since he had taken a trip through the Lewis Pass to one of the best locations on the South Island circuit.

“It’s probably been close to thirty years since I’ve been over to Westport, and that was back when I was a junior driver,” said Boyd.

“We have just had 18 yearlings come through the gate, mostly from Southland so it’s probably not the best timing for a trip away but I’m looking forward to getting out there tomorrow,” he said.

So for a man whose busier then a one armed brick layer this time of year, what inspired the three hour float ride across through the Southern Alps?

“The main reason for coming was probably Kawatiri Creek (Bettor’s Delight),” said Boyd about the beautifully bred full sister to Group One performer, Wainui Creek.

“I was speaking to the owners as she goes quite good on the grass, and What A Minx (Art Major) has shown a bit as well at times. Obviously with the maiden trotter, it was a good opportunity to bring her on a trip away and give her the chance to get a bit of ring-craft and learn a bit about what it is to be a racehorse.

The maiden trotter Boyd is referring too is on debut and goes by the name of Practical Magic (Majestic Son). The four-year-old had been unsighted in public for almost 12 months before making an appearance at the Methven Trials last weekend (8th of 9) and has a pedigree that would suggest she can trot a bit.

“There was no real reason for the time away other than the fact the wife owns her I guess so we gave her a decent spell and then with being so busy the ones you own are generally getting the least attention,” he laughed.

“She has a decent size motor but at this stage it is about putting it all together so we are more hopeful than we are confident about her chances tomorrow. She has a bit of breeding on her side and I have a bit of time for her going forward,” he said.

When asked whether punters were then reliant on the hands of Boyd who is listed to drive the four-year-old mare, he mentioned the fact that this is likely to be a one off for future race starts.

“Blair rang me for the drive, but the wife said being her first start I should do the steering and keep it in the family first up,” Boyd laughed.

Practical Magic has drawn in barrier three for the non-winners trot in the first on the programme and as one of two debutants, it’s a race that looks winnable if the cards fell her way given the lack of form around some of her competitors who for the most part have been well tried in their careers to date.

Boyd’s duo of pacing mares will greet the mobile barrier together in the fifth on the programme with Kawatiri Creek to be handled by Ricky May from barrier four, while Blair Orange will do the steering of What A Minx who has drawn one the second line. Both are coming off last start wins which bodes well for their confidence in their first look each at Patterson Park.

The 2600m affair looks to be an even field with six of the eleven runners rated between $4.50 to a $7.50 quote, with Boyd’s What A Minx the pre race favourite.

“Both the pacing mares have a bit of ability and I guess it will come down to who gets the luck in the running.

“Kawatiri Creek had been knocking on the door for clearing maidens for a while and does have to take that next step up where as What A Minx had been racing some of the better fillies in the country most of last term. I think they are both nice chances,” he said.

While Westport can seem like a world away for anyone not familiar with the enchanting West Coast of the South Island, for What A Minx’s owner, he quite literally is a world away and was unaware his mare had won her last start until he caught up with the trainer last week.

“Spud (Crosse) is actually in Peru traversing one of the worlds largest mountains and he got a bit of a shock when I told him she had won at Addington,” he laughed.

“It was bucketing down when we arrived here yesterday but the weather has been really good today so hopefully that continues for tomorrow.

For complete Westport fields, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink