Trathen gets biggest win

West Melton trainer Tim Trathen scored his biggest pay day when Nellie Doyle (Majestic Son) won the $50,000 Listed Future Wealth Sires’ Stakes Aged Trotters Classic at Addington last night.

In the trotting feature driver Blair Orange stepped Nellie Doyle away brilliantly and was in front by the winning post. With just over a lap to run Orange got Nellie Doyle off the inside running line and slotted into the one one. As the field fanned out for the run home, Nellie Doyle got going and when Eurostyle galloped Orange found himself in front. Nellie Doyle went down to the line to win by a length from back marker Mighty Logan.

NELLIE DOYLE REPLAY

“I’ve always liked her because she’s had a bit of a motor. Her gait at times can be a bit funny. We’ve tinkered around with her shoeing. I asked Blair about how she trotted last night. He said she was okay (laughter). I said ‘geez you’re a hard man to please.” Trathen said.

The win was the mare’s fourth in thirteen starts and she’s come a long way in a short time after only qualifying in November.

Trathen got Nellie Doyle from Kim Nyhan after she broke her wrist and couldn’t work horses.

“She didn’t want the horse to have too long off so she asked us to take her for a month. We were very lucky with the way it’s worked out.”

Trathen shares in the ownership of the mare with Mark Newman, Ian Anderson and Tracey Steele.

“They’ve had a few winners before and it’s hard to find the right one without spending a lot of money.”

Last night’s win was a career highlight for the Canterbury based horseman whose biggest win before had been the Group Three Invercargill Cup with Dadndave. But that race only carried a stake of $27,000.

“It was a great one to win. She’s getting a bit of confidence now and has jumped up the grades that quick. When racing at that speed she just gets lost at times.”

Some racing options for Trathen in the next few months could be the G3 $40,000 Heather Williams Memorial in early May, the Listed Uncut Gems Trotter Classic two weeks later and the About Now Fillies and Mares Handicap Trot on the 23rd of May all at Addington.

“I haven’t looked too far but I might have to now. She’s pulled up well and is just thriving.”

The win was very satisfying for both Trathen and Orange, because they’ve known each other since Orange was a young stable hand.

“Tim Butt and I lived together at West Melton. Blair used to come round as a kid and he started working for Tim. I had a trotter called Del And Rodney. He won seven, but was a bit of a bugger to go away. I lived in Nelson then and I sent him down to Tim. He rang me one day and asked if I was going to Westport (December 1995) and I said I was. He said for me to take my gear because he’d had enough of the horse, didn’t want him back and I could drive him.”

Butt sent a number of horses over to the coast that year and Orange was the stable hand.

“He (Del And Rodney) lost two hundred (metres) and ran second on the first day, lost 100 on the second day and won. We were off 20 metres at Reefton, and he began like a rocket and won. So yes, Blair and I have known each other for a long time.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink