First win in 10 starts for Auntie Deb

A “nice bread and butter” horse for Burnham trainer-driver Andrew Faulks, Auntie Deb (Sky Major) scored a well deserved maiden harness racing victory at Addington yesterday.

“He went really good,” says Faulks, “after some really good placings behind a couple of good ones at Rangiora. I’m pretty happy.”

The son of Sky Major had been producing some very strong placings prior to yesterday and now boasts a career record of one win and five placings from only 10 starts.

In the North Canterbury Flashings Mobile Pace, Auntie Deb settled fourth last in the running line early with Faulks before embarking on a three wide solo mission from the 850 metres. Pacemaker and eventual runner-up, Woodlea Diamond, skipped away by a few lengths at the top of the straight, but once Auntie Deb balanced up he was able to sustain his run to pick up Woodlea Diamond short of the post to score by one length.

“It was a good race for him. A few lower rated maidens, although the one he beat had been racing pretty well too.”

AUNTY DEB REPLAY

Auntie Deb was bred by Bruce and Colleen Negus, and is raced by them and Bruce’s daughter Debbie – who Auntie Deb is named after.

“I broke him in for Bruce (Negus), he was one of about five or six I did for him that year. He (Auntie Deb) tried to put him through a fence one day, so Bruce said to me you may as well have a go with this one.”

“We train on the same property so I just took him over.”

“He’s got better with a bit of time. After a good placing at Wyndham one day he kinda went off a little bit. But with some time he’s bounced back and now he’s really good. Paces well in a longer hopple and is turning into a nice bread and butter horse.”

“I actually trained his mother (Queen Of Glory) to win a race too. Bruce trained her but when he went on an OE with Colleen he put a few in my name, including her.”

Auntie Deb will continue to race while “he’s going good” and will likely be tipped out for a spell towards the end of winter. He is nominated to race at Addington this Sunday.

Faulks trains a team of eight from his Burnham base and has so far won 153 races.

Auntie Deb and Andrew Faulks’ victory set a trend for the day where five of the eleven races were won by by their trainer/drivers. The others were My Royal Break (Gerard O’Reilly), Oh Mickey (Jonny Cox), Keeping It Kiwi (Robbie Holmes) and Star Magic (Gavin Smith).

For complete race results, click here.

by Mike Love, for Harness Racing New Zealand