Former hack adds to Ward’s super fund

Sacked trotter and riding hack Our Superfund (Superfast Stuart) made a successful return to the racetrack at the Wairio harness racing meeting at Winton yesterday.

Trained by Sammy Balloch, the six year old is owned by Mary Ward and her daughter Jade.

Jade runs Reigning Down Haura Centre, an equestrian school and her father, raceday starter Ben Ward spotted the horse there.

“This younger girl was riding him, and he was playing up, bucking and carrying on. She was going to get rid of the horse. I looked up the horse’s breeding, rung up the previous trainer and thought I’d have a go with the horse. I gave the girl $300 for him and she was quite happy,” Ben said.

Our Superfund was initially tried by Kevin Brosnahan and went to one trial and a workout before he was sacked.

“I’ve had a Superfast Stuart before and I quite like them. I took him home and he wouldn’t stand still. He’d kick and bite you if he could get away with it. I stood him the paddock, messed around with him, took my time and the horse just got better.”

Our Superfund qualified at Central Southland Raceway in November and prior to yesterday’s win has had two starts – one at Invercargill and the other at Ascot Park, breaking on both occasions.

“He just couldn’t get round that first bend.”

Yesterday driver Nathan Williamson settled Our Superfund four back on the running line before taking him to the top with 1200 metres to run. There he stayed and he went down to the finish untouched to win by seven lengths.

There are some handy horses in the gelding’s pedigree, including Live The Dream (14 wins) and Pegasus Dream (7).

It was Balloch’s thirteenth winner, six of which have been owned by Mary Ward. Her other winners for the Ascot Park trainer have been Robo Trouble (1), Mr Mayfly (1) and He’s My Valentine (4).

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink