Downbytheseaside mare gives Shirley his second training success

Pukekohe-based harness racing trainer Greg Shirley was thrilled with the way his four-year-old mare Words (Downbytheseaside) took out Tuesday’s Night Of Champions Tickets On Sale Now Mobile Pace at Cambridge Raceway.

Shirley has long been involved in the racing industry, originally in the thoroughbred code, but now is fully immersed in harness racing where alongside training his horses, he works maintaining the Pukekohe tracks and on the crash crew at Alexandra Park. Words is just his second winner since he first took out his trainers’ licence in 2021.

“She’s doing some nice things on the race track which has actually come as a bit of a surprise as I wasn’t sure she had quite this much ability,” said Shirley.

“But to go as well as she has in her first few starts and to run the time she did, she’s definitely showing she’s got some ability.”

Words was confidently driven in the night’s junior drivers race by Emily Johnson, who elected to drive the mare positively off the gate from her wide barrier draw and take the lead as they entered the back straight on the first occasion. Setting a solid lead time, Words travelled comfortably in front and when entering the home straight, with a little encouragement from Johnson, she maintained an easy lead to win by 1.5 lengths in a time of 2:39.9 for the 2200 metre trip.

“Emily came in and said she went great but she’s still so green, she was looking around out in front a bit but Emily did a great job handling her,” said Shirley.

“She has actually been a bit of a handful along the way which is why she didn’t race until she was four and had several trials before racing, but between Andre Poutama and Emily driving her race day she’s getting a good education in learning how to be a racehorse.”

WORDS REPLAY

The Downbytheseaside mare is owned by former trainer Eddie Clarke and his partner Maria Lang, and she’s made an excellent start to racing having had just three starts to date for two wins at Cambridge and a second placing at Alexandra Park behind the well performed Ultimate Racy Girl.

“Eddie was wanting to step back a bit from training so between us we just potter away with one or two at a time and see if they are any good,” said Shirley.

“He bought Words a few years ago as a weanling from Woodlands Stud and we are all really enjoying the ride she’s taking us on at the moment.”

“It’s a pretty big thing for guys like us to have a horse that’s nice enough to head to Alexandra Park with and be competitive against some of the big stables.”

The next assignment for Words will likely be at Cambridge next week on Flying Mile Night in the Graduation Pace.

Also based at Pukekohe, Derek Balle scored a winning training double with Boss Jo finally clearing maiden ranks after 34 starts, and Sunset Strip winning later in the night for driver Zachary Butcher with a tough win after sitting parked in running.

For complete race results, click here.

by Brigette Solomon, for Harness Racing New Zealand