‘Dell’ a special fella

Sunday’s win by Della’s Fella (What The Hill) at the Waimate meeting proves it’s never too late to get into harness racing.

“For me to get my first training win after just getting my license is amazing,” fifty five year old Maureen Hutchison said.

She trains in partnership with her partner John Lemon who trained in his own right between 1991 and 2005 before taking a break from the sport. His last win was in 2001.

Lemon renewed his licence this season and only recently brought Maureen in as a partner. The couple train at the Waimate track.

On Sunday after beginning well, driver Jonny Cox settled Della’s Fella behind the pacemaker and favourite Neil William.

Once the field turned in for the run home, Cox held Della’s Fella together and he trotted home nicely to beat Neil William by a neck.

“He’s still a little bit green on the corners. I said to Jonny to keep a fairly tight rein going round the corners. I said after that you know what to do. First four… no pressure (laughter),” Maureen said.

She added that winning at their home club’s race meeting was special.

“Definitely. It still doesn’t feel real that we’ve won a race.”

And Maureen thinks Della’s Fella has more wins in him.

“He’s got speed and he never gives up. Once he masters the corners he’ll be unstoppable I reckon.”

The plan is to head to Oamaru early next month, then nominate him for Cup Day.

“We’ll see what the possible field looks like, otherwise he’ll go to Ashburton on the Thursday of Cup Week.”

John, Maureen and John’s two sons Simon and Logan share in the ownership of Della’s Fella.

“Lee Galloway (jockey) wanted to come into the syndicate, but he was too late when he contacted me. He’s been a good friend of mine for years.”

Maureen says Della’s Fella is very much a one person horse.

“Simon said he’d take him to the swabbing box after the win. He was chained up in the stalls and he went to take him out but the horse wouldn’t budge. He gave me the lead rope and he just walked out straight away (laughter).”

Simon’s son Bodie Murison-Lemon is also keen on harness racing. He’s started Kidz Kartz and is helping out at Dean Stapleton’s stable.

“He’s got the bug for harness racing as well.”

Della’s Fella is out of a full sister to millionaire trotter Speeding Spur and was bought at the 2022 National Weanling Sales by Michael House for just $5,000.

“He raced him as a two year old and he broke both times so he put him on Gavelhouse. We went out to look at him and took him. Micheal said he just needed a bit of time and some one on one. We brought him down to Waimate. Johnny drives him and I do the groundwork and he’s become my favourite.”

Della’s Fella does most of his work on the grass but is taken south to Oamaru from time to time where he gets to work with some of Matty Williamson’s trotters.

He also does some of his work with another local trotter Bevron, trained by Wayne Low.

“He’s a rating 41 and we’re now a rating 40 so we could be racing against each other (laughter).”

Della’s Fella is the only horse John and Maureen have in work at the moment.

“Once Archie (Maureen’s grandson) is dropped off at school we go down to the track, gear up the horse and Johnny takes him round the track and I make up the feeds. We also do a bit of work around the racecourse.”

Archie who lives with the couple has also become very interested in the sport.

“He did a two day course in the school holidays and they have training on a Wednesday. Until we can find a pony that’s broken into the cart for him to train with, I have to take him up to Christchurch. He’s definitely got the bug and Coaster (Howe) is his sponsor.”

Maureen has been around horses for most of her life. She worked with gallopers from an early age, helped out at Neil Corbeck’s stables and was in a number of galloping syndicates with Pam Robson.

She caught the harness racing bug when she started helping out Coaster Howe on race days.

John and Maureen have one other horse on their books – Lunar Lord, who’s a One Over Da Moon rising two year old trotter out of Duchesse de I ‘Amour.

He’s a half-brother to the eight wins mare Emily and is from a family the late Max Robinson had success with, both trotting and pacing, which included Greg Robinson (15) and Sugar Ray Robinson (9).

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink