Derby placegetter retired

New Zealand Derby placegetter Sand Wave (Somebeachsomewhere) has been retired from harness racing.

“He’s had a niggly injury in his fetlock. It wasn’t settling down and he’s been such a good horse to everybody we decided rather than keep patching him up we’d do the right thing by him,” trainer Nathan Williamson said.

Raced by the Nine Three Syndicate, the Nude @ Ten Syndicate and Chris Alcock, Sand Wave won ten of his twenty nine starts. His wins included the Group Two Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes and the Listed $50,000 Garrards Sires’ Stakes Magnifique at Addington.

“He was a great wee horse and as honest as. It’s sad because he’s one of those horses that wanted to carry on racing and got upset that he wasn’t still in training.”

Sand Wave ran third in the Group One New Zealand Derby behind Akuta and Republican Party, third in the Group Three Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup and second in the Listed Garrard Sires’ Stakes Sophomore Classic at Ashburton.

Knowing how well sons of Somebeachsomewhere are performing at stud, the ownership group is hoping to give Sand Wave a chance in the breeding barn.

“They’re in negotiation with the likes of Macca Lodge to see whether there’s a stud future for him or not. He’s well related and a few local stallions are doing a good job so there might be a wee bit of interest.”

Meanwhile quality trotting mare Hidden Talent (Bacardi Lindy) is due back in work this week.

After running second to Resolve in the Group Three Jasmyn’s Gift Fillies and Mares Stakes at Oamaru on a slushy track, Hidden Talent didn’t recapture the form that saw her win the Sires’ Stake Classique at three and run second in the New Zealand Trotting Oaks.

“Things didn’t go right for her in the spring. She struck that bog track at Oamaru which derailed her campaign. She was doing a few things wrong and had a few issues toward the end (of her four year old season) so I decided a good break wouldn’t do her any harm. She’s still a young trotter. She looks terrific and I’m looking forward to getting her back in.”

From just fifteen starts she’s won five races and banked $81,568 for the Griffins Syndicate.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink