Stormont to head back north

After a short stint in Canterbury, James Stormont has decided to head back north and link up with Graeme Rogerson’s harness racing stable in the Waikato.

“I’ve met a lot of good people and everyone has been super friendly as long as you can get used to the Crusader part of it (laughter),” Stormont said of his time in the south.

He began work for Weedon’s trainer Fred Fletcher in September last year and drove five winners for the stable, but has decided to return home for financial reasons.

“Special thanks to Fred and Faye and the rest of the Fletcher family who helped me settle in. Fred’s been great to work for. Thanks to Jo Chapman and the good people at the Springston Hotel where I stayed.”

Stormont expects to start at the Rogerson stable early next month and is not entering into a training partnership.

“As long as I get results for Graeme and we’re having a good run with the team that’s the main thing.”

He’s taking just one horse north. Maiden trotter Hayley Mhor (Majestic Son) is a horse he qualified at Pukekohe and brought south.

“The owners have decided to follow me back north.”

In the forty two seasons he’s been driving Stormont has driven 1,290 winners and has been associated with some good horses.

He drove Merinai to win a Rowe Cup and Dominion Handicap. He won with Tigerish thirteen times including G1 victories in the Great Northern Oaks, New Zealand Oaks, DB Draught Filles Final and New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Stakes.

James was also associated with many of Malcolm Shinn’s horses which raced in the north; the likes of Nevermore, Susie Maguire and Cherubic.

Meanwhile Stormont confirmed that Hey Bartender (Sweet Lou) has been sold. The gelding won five of his ten starts as a four year old but was winless at five and six from a limited number of starts. His last win was in Auckland in December 2022.

“That grade just below Cup grade down here is hard. He was bought through Carter Dalgety and I understand he’s going to America.”

Rogerson has some handy horses in his stable including Always Flyin (Always B Miki) which has won two of his four starts, Gaz Man (Majestic Son) the winner of six, trotter Shez Belle (Pegasus Spur) which has won four and the handy mare Seaclusion (Sweet Lou) which has won once and has had eight second placings.

A jovial Rogerson who’s recovering from a triple heart bypass said, “I flew him up the other night to drive her. I told him everyone else has got beaten driving her and you’ll be another one,”.

The stable also has some nice young stock coming through purchased by Rogerson at the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Auckland last year. Sweet Lou – Bettor Be A Lady is a colt and a full-brother to Cantfindabettorman and Wicked Wanda. There’s a Father Patrick – Lovemelikeyoudo  which is closely related to Our Twentyten and  High Gait, a Bettor’s Delight colt out of Saucycullen – a full-brother to Chimochurri, a Bettor’s Delight colt out of dual Group One winning mare Twist And Twirl who’s a half-brother to King Of Swing and a Sweet Lou filly out the nine win Bettor’s Delight mare Utmost Delight.

Rogerson on his own account as well as with a variety of training partnerships, has trained 456 winners.

“It’s only a hobby for me. I just like to play the game quiet.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink