Pembrook Playboy two stone lighter

Southland harness racing pacing star Pembrook Playboy (Bettor’s Delight) is as they say, “two stone lighter.”

The horse is recovering from a tendon problem which prevented him from running in The Race and he has been treated with Irap. In the time he’s been away from the training track he has also been gelded.

Irap or I Receptor Antagonist Protein therapy, is a proven and effective treatment for joint lameness, muscle injuries, tendon and ligament injuries.

It harnesses the regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties of the horse’s own blood cells, and damaged musculoskeletal tissues are encouraged to heal.

“It’s going directly into the joint. So it repairs the joint naturally by using the serum from the blood. Because the blood has been spun it’s just the healing properties from the blood going into the joint,” Williamson said.

The decision to geld him was one of the most challenging his young trainer Nathan Williamson has had to make.

“I didn’t know a lot about it. Everyone was a bit like me and quite cautious about doing it because he’s an older horse. But from what I can see I’m glad I did geld him. His demeanour has changed, and I think he’ll be a better racehorse because of it” he said.

Williamson was aided in his decision due to his experience with Franco Santino (Christian Cullen) whom he also trained.

Franco Santino was Southland Horse of the Year in 2020. He won nine races and more than $90,000 in stakes, but Williamson struggled to get the entire to put on condition, especially over his hind quarters.

When he finished his racing career, he became part of the HRNZ Life After Racing programme.

During the rehoming period he was gelded, and Williamson saw first hand how the horse had strengthened up over his back end.

Pembrook Playboy and stablemate Sand Wave (Somebeachsomewhere) have been sent to Mark and Debbie Smith’s property at Myross Bush.

“He’s got a lovely paddock out there that Debbie had to spare. By the time he comes back in I’m sure he’ll be looking well. Debbie will hard feed them and we know how well she presents her horses. It’s good to give the horses a break from my property too. By the time he (Pembrook Playboy) comes back in he will have had a two and a half month break and he hasn’t had one of those for a long time. Being a gelding, it would have settled him down and I’m hoping he’ll come back, more relaxed and stronger and a better racehorse.”

Williamson will give Pembrook Playboy a long build up with an eye to spring racing and the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru.

“I’ll be able to tell before we get to a workout or trial whether we’ve made the right decision and then it’ll come down to him whether he can perform. Now that we know where the injury is I think we’ll be able to keep on top of it.”

by Bruce Stewart