Aviator to fly out of a different base

Quality harness racing pacer Macandrew Aviator (Panspacificflight) will conduct his future racing from the Canterbury barn of Stephen Boyd. 

Owned by Megan, Mark, Andrew and Jamie Reidie and the Kiwi Connection Syndicate, the six year old gelding last raced at Addington on 10th of February. Soon afterwards a scintigraphy scan identified a tear in his hind suspensory ligament. 

“That last race when he galloped, he ran the mile in 1-52.8 on an injured leg. The report from the vet say’s it’s been there for a while. Both Kirstin (Green – trainer) and Craig (Ferguson) his regular drivers said there was something not quite right with him so we’re lucky there,” Megan Reidie said. 

The winner of eight of his thirty six starts for Green, Macandrew Aviator’s last win was in the Group Three Northern Southland Cup when he beat Pembrook Playboy (Bettor’s Delight) by two lengths. 

This campaign he’s also finished second in the Group Three Central Otago FFA, third in the Group One Invercargill Cup, and fourth in both the New Zealand Junior FFA and Hannon Memorial.  

“With the current handicapping system racing him in Southland is pretty difficult now. He’s rated at R79 and if he stayed down here he’d have to do a lot of travelling. Kirstin handled that brilliantly last year,” Reidie said. 

As well as using Boyd’s water walker Macandrew Aviator had three shockwave treatments which speed up the healing process. He was also boxed for a month and then given a slow build up on the water walker.  

An ultrasound scan was done on the injury a few days ago and Reidie says the reports are positive. 

“The injured ligament has reduced in size and is healed, so it’s time to push on. The main thing the vet said was that it’ll be a slow build up to get him back (to racing). He hasn’t lost too much fitness which is handy.” 

Based on the positive scan results the ownership group decided to keep the horse with Boyd. 

“Stephen took him in for his ultrasound. They discussed the horse’s rehab programme and the vet recommended that the water walker would be the best option.” 

“With this type of injury the beach isn’t ideal. That’s my forte, so now you have to pass him onto someone who can do what he needs,” Green added. 

Reidie said all going to plan Macandrew Aviator will be aimed at the New Zealand Cup. 

“We’d ideally like to go to the Maurice Holmes Vase at the end of August and follow a similar trail that Kirstin took him on last year with races like the Hannon Memorial and Canterbury Classic. The thing that appeals about the Maurice Holmes is that the winner gets into the New Zealand Cup automatically. Because of his rating he’ll be able to race in other races on a Friday night at Addington.” 

The reports out of the Boyd barn are also very positive as Macandrew Aviator is picky when it comes to Air BnB. 

“He’s very much a homebody. He doesn’t like it when he gets turned out, I can’t catch him (laughter). Stephen said he’s settled in brilliantly. I know that Stephen’s young boy takes him out to graze. He’s eating well and loves the water walker. Stephen says he’s kept all his muscle, he’s a little hairy but he was just preparing for a Southland winter.” 

Reidie says there are no plans to change the driver, and Southlander Craig Ferguson will retain the reins. 

“He’ll be offered the drive first. I haven’t had a 100% confirmation from him but I’m sure he’ll be keen. He’s already done a lot of travel for Aviator so I don’t see why he wouldn’t.” 

The decision to move the open class pacer north is bittersweet for the syndicate. 

“It means we can’t win things like the Southland Horse of the Year.” 

And for the horse’s Southland trainer – “It’s gutting because he’s a real New Zealand Cup chance, but you have to do what’s right for the horse and put him where he can reach his potential,” Green said.  

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink