Who is the Pukekohe Punter?

A lot can change quickly in racing but the Pukekohe Punter seems to have things pretty well sorted heading into the first ever slot races at Addington Raceway on Friday, November 15.

First of all the Pukekohe Punter, aka Aaron Lowe, outlaid $30,000 for a slot in THE ASCENT, and he also has a horse he hopes can be a major factor in the race in last start winner Cyclone Zion W (Father Patrick).

“I quite enjoy Cup week, one of my horses Heavyweight Hero won there a few years back so I bought the slot hoping my horse would run in it,” says Lowe.

Trained and driven by Bob Butt, Heavyweight Hero took out the Group 1 New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All on Cup Day in 2020.

Butt also trains Cyclone Zion W, who is named after the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, Zion Williamson. He made his debut in the New Orleans Pelicans alongside Kiwi basketball star Steven Adams.

The Father Patrick gelding has only had three starts, winning in impressive fashion by nearly seven lengths at Ashburton on September 1.

“He’s a bit raw, a bit untapped like the player himself, he’s got plenty of character so should be better than ok.”

Hailing from a family of market gardeners in Pukekohe – “they’ve been there since the 1940s” he now lives in Karaka and is a part-time sports agent and a non-practicing qualified accountant. He’s also a keen punter (hence his moniker) and names many of his horses after sports stars.

Cyclone S Adams for instance has had nine wins, including six in Australia, Cyclone L Ko’s had two, Cyclone U Bolt has won 12, including the 3YO and 4YO Ruby Groups at the Harness Jewels in 2012 and 2013 and Cyclone Jeter (named after baseball star Derek Jeter) won eight and is the dam of unbeaten three-year-old Derek the Jet, who’s won seven from seven in Australia.

Another thing they have in common is Cyclone Vance, who’s been a brilliant broodmare.

And how Lowe acquired Cyclone Vance is a story in itself.

As a “20 or 21 year old” he had a life changing win on the punt. He won a $100,000 Pick 6 at Cambridge, with his being the only live ticket.

“I only spent $32, and it was back in the days of cheques and they had to write up a cheque and I picked it up from the Pukekohe TAB!”

With his bank account bulging he went to the 2000 Australasian Yearling Sales not far from his home at Karaka and paid $10,000 on a Safely Kept – Cyclone Betsi yearling.

That yearling was Cyclone Vance. She won six races between 2001 and 2004 for Lowe and co-owner-trainer-driver Todd Macfarlane. He also bought Scott Dixon who won four from 17.

They were Lowe’s first purchases “and it’s just gone from there”.

“I’ve had 80 winners under my name and Cyclone Vance’s progeny have won over 100 races.”

The best horse Lowe bred was Glenferrie Typhoon (pictured above), who won 36 of his 77 starts and more than half a million dollars across the Tasman.

“He’s the foal after Cyclone U Bolt. He’s by Majestic Son and we sold him as a yearling for $50,000.”

As for THE ASCENT Lowe has tried to second guess just who Cyclone Zion W will be up against and with $210,000 going to the winner he’s excited to be part of the conversation.

“I’ve worked out who I think I’ll be up against but a lot changes between now and November – some will improve so there’s a bit of the unknown at the moment.”

So will he be in Christchurch for the first ever THE ASCENT?

“Potentially, yes!”

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk