Manjimup wins at the Mot

Local trainer Steve Harding enjoys winning races on his home track and yesterday at the Akaroa harness racing meeting Manjimup (Big Jim) in the hands of local driver Ross Cameron, got the job done.

Cameron stepped Manjimup away well and settled third last. He followed American Sniper into the race as the field straightened up and he finished down the outside of the track to win by a length and a half.

Manjimup is out of the In The Pocket mare La Moocha, a daughter of the 2001 New Zealand Cup winner Kym’s Girl which was part owned by Graeme Trist.

Over the years Trist and Harding have formed a good partnership.

Harding said “He just gave me a horse to try years ago. I told him it was no good and he appreciated the advice. A few months later he rang and said he had a deal for me with the rest of the La Mooch foals coming through.”

An agreement was struck. Trist would be responsible for breaking in the foals and once Harding got them to qualifying stage, he would receive a half share.

Harding has had Manjimup right from the start.

“He’s had problems with his legs because he’s very long legged. He’s built like an athlete not like a Sherman tank, so he’s had a few problems clipping knees.”

Yesterday was the horse’s fifth win from forty one starts, the six year old’s third on the grass and second on his home track. Harding shares in the ownership of Manjimup with Trist, Ian Kininmonth and his daughter Sidney.

Harding has held a trainer’s licence since 2008 and at Methven in October 2020 Manjimup was his first winner.

Another of La Moocha’s foals Audacity, starts today at Methven.

“He’s goes good but he’s very hot headed. At the moment I think we’ve got on top of that because he’s getting better and better.”

The mare’s last two foals are a Sportswriter filly named Canterbury Belle and a rising three year gelding by Betterthancheddar named Ad Finitum.

Harding’s stable is at McQueens Valley just down the road from the Motukarara track.

“I’ve got a track here and I do a lot of the strong work with them. I might take them round to Motukarara to give them a bit of a zip up. So it works out quite well.”

Steve got involved in harness racing through the Amateur Drivers programme.

“I approached a good friend of mine Jeff Whittaker, after I saw the amateurs going round at Kaikoura. Jeff taught me the ropes.”

Steve who has a fulltime job as an electrician for Petrotech, began his training career at West Melton before moving to McQueens Valley.

“I’m working three horses at the moment, so I have to fit them in either in the morning or after work. When I was at West Melton I used Craig Thornley (driver) but since I’ve been here I’ve used Ross who brings his team over from Coes Ford every day. It’s worked out really well.”

Yesterday was a good day for Cameron because Saginaw (Well Said), a horse he developed and won five races with, won at Menangle last night. Cameron still owns a share in the gelding.

Harding says he only races his horses over the summer months.

“It gets a bit wet here in winter. With the lack of daylight hours and work it makes it too hard.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink