Southland based owners have a big year

Southland based owners have had a big season albeit with horses that were generally trained outside the province.

Leading the charge was Lochiel owner Pauline Gillan who shares in the ownership of New Zealand Derby winner Sheriff and New Zealand Messenger and Four Year Old Emerald winner Eamon Maguire.

She also had a share in Thefixer. Horses she raced this season won a total of $378,457.00.

Pat Kubala's name was also to the fore. The Gore based principal of Charlton Park Enterprises Limited owns Pat’s Delight which beat Sheriff in the Three Year Old Emerald on Harness Jewels Day at Cambridge.

Sheriff won five races and $186,344 while Pat’s Delight won six races and $171, 313. Their clash in the New Zealand Derby was one of the highlights of the season. Sheriff beat Pat's Delight by a nose running the 2600 metre mobile in a new New Zealand Record of 3-05.4. The New Zealand Derby and Three Year Old record for this distance has been broken in each of the past three years. Last year Vincent ran 3-06.0.The year before that Lazarus broke the record running 3-08.5 and in 2015 Have Faith In Me recorded 3-09.2.

Pauline Gillan (second from right) after Eamon Maguire's win in last seasons Supremacy – Photo Bruce Stewart.

Normally both Pat's Delight and Sheriff would have been well in contention to be named New Zealand Three Year Old of the Year. However Chase Auckland which won eight of his nine races and banked $392,329 is likely the leading candidate.

It’s also worth mentioning Gore Harness Racing Club President Kenny Baynes who had a share in a good number of winners this season. War Admiral, War Machine, Royal Bengal, Especial, Envious, Too Cool, Full Noise and Convair Hustler. Collectively they won seventeen races. All horses bar Royal Bengal, were trained in Southland.

Baynes had three starters in this season's Harness Jewels while Pauline Gillan had two.

Other Southland owners to have a good season were Lindsay and Ian Thomson and Neville Cleaver. The Thomson's own Six Diamonds (2), Vintage Cheddar (2), Ossessione (1), Kilowatt Kid (3), Lawrence (2) and Chilli Franco (1). 

Cleaver's winners include Franco Santino (4), Sundon's Wish (4), Foo Fighter (2), Scarlett Lane (2) and Sheezamonarchy (1). 

Bruce Stewart