Nate Delany – from driving to training

Twenty three year old harness racing junior Nathan Delany has come full circle having worked at Lincoln Farms when he first got started and now back, working under the guidance of Ray Green.

“It’s good to be back there,” he said.

His family is heavily involved in the sport. His mother Judith works for Jeremy Young while sister Krystal-Lee is a stable hand for Peter and Vaughan Blanchard.

Like most young people in the sport Nathan has been to a number of stables including Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan’s and Dave and Clare McGowan’s, where he worked for two years before returning to Lincoln Farms.

He’s driven thirty six winners, the first being Williedu (Elsu) at Cambridge in December 2017.

“He was trained by Eddie Clarke and was an old pacer that no one wanted to drive at the workouts. I got on him at the workouts and we ended up winning three races, so he did a good job.”

Seven of Delany’s winners have been for Barry Purdon, five for Luk Chin and Eddie Clarke and three for Purdon and Phelan.

He says Scott Phelan and Andre Poutama have been good role models, offering sound feedback on his drives throughout his career.

“They’ve always been my main mentors who’ve helped me out along the way.”

In addition to driving, Delany is currently training six horses.

He has a Fear The Dragon two year old named Dragon Off which is owned by Hasting trainer Tracy Cadwallader and a Vincent yearling colt named Dream Of Eric out of Marylyne Bromac (Washington VC) who’s a half to Jo’s Dream (Gotta Go Cullect). Jo’s Dream won eleven races and deadheated with Party On (Bettor’s Delight) in the G1 Queen of Hearts.

“The way he’s (Dream Of Eric) pacing around the paddock and the track I’m quite happy with him. He’s only a yearling but I think he could race as a two year old.”

From just a handful of race day starters he’s trained one winner – Illustrious Arden (Vincent) at Cambridge Raceway in August 2023.

Most involved in the sport would agree with Delany when he says horses have to be sold to make ends meet.

“Golden Fire, (Gold Ace) she was a freebie I got from a stud. I was quite lucky to get her and I sold her for a bit of money. Gwyneth P (Gold Ace) I bought off Gavelhouse for $500. She did a good job here but I thought it was best for her to go to Australia and press on over there.”

Gwyneth P recorded two seconds and a third for Delany in nine starts before she was sold to Australia where she’s gone on to win four races. After one start in New Zealand Golden Fire has won two of his four starts in Australia.

When asked about his aspirations Nathan said he’d love to win the New Zealand Derby.

“There’s something about the Derby that just gets me.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink