Plenty of Hoo Haa for Harrington

Outsider Hoo Haa (Captaintreacherous) is continuing a great run for Swannanoa harness racing trainer Jack Harington.

In the past two months, Ti Amo Belle has won three races while Salvo and Hoo Haa have saluted the judge once.

“A lot of the horses are in the right grade, getting good draws and good runs. We’re making sure we feed them right, work them right and concentrating on all the one percenter’s (small details). It seems to be paying off,” Harrington said.

HOO HAA REPLAY

It’s rare for a Blair Orange drive to be at such long odds (13/13) but Harrington said prior to yesterday’s win, Hoo Haa hadn’t had good draws or good luck.

The three year old filly is the second foal out of four win Bettor’s Delight mare Kate Black. Mark and Francesca Laffy purchased her for $20,000 after she was passed in at the 2002 Christchurch Sales.

“He rang me to see whether I’d had a look at the horse. I told him I hadn’t. I was with Ken Barron at the time and he didn’t have anything written in his book (catalogue) either. Mark rang back half an hour later and said he’d just gone ahead and bought her.”

The yearling arrived a few days later and when she got off the float Harrington could see why she was passed in.

“She had quite a bad conformation fault in her off front. As she’s grown and matured it’s been as good as gold and the leg has straightened out a bit. Now you wouldn’t even know. The first day we put the hopples on her she paced around and felt like a Rolls Royce. She was beautifully gaited and had a bit of spark there.”

The following year the mare’s next foal Got The Chocolates (Art Major) sold for $90,000 and was bought by Diamond Racing. He’s won three of his six starts as a two year old including the G1 Welcome Stakes.

“I went and had a look at Got The Chocolates and quickly realised I wouldn’t be able to afford him. If she (Hoo Haa) can win a few more races and Got The Chocolates keeps going on the path he’s going, I think she could end up being a pretty valuable broodmare.”

Mark and Francesca have raced horses before. Mark’s father Paul gave them Just One Good One (Santanna Blue Chip) which won a race at Reefton.

“Mark has his own business. He had a young family and was doing a new build so took a break from the sport for a few years. His parents Paul and Jo owned Just One Good One’s half – brothers Just Holla (Mach Three) and Just Ace (Gold Ace).”

Just Holla won seven races and Just Ace posted four wins.

“Mark and Francesca and the kids would always come to the races and watch those two horses. Then the house was built, the kids were a bit older and the business was going well so they decided to get back into it.”

Mark owns CladX which installs AAC panel and cladding systems in Canterbury.

The couple’s son Finn is interested in harness racing and has been doing Kidz Kartz for two seasons. With the school holidays fast approaching he’s interested in heading out to Swannanoa and expanding his knowledge.

Harrington has only eight horses in work at the moment after turning out a group of yearlings and two year olds.

“Hopefully we’ll get back up to twelve or fifteen in the next month or two. We’re trying to do a bit of syndication of some of the young ones we’ve bred.”

Harrington has also ventured into training gallopers, with his wife Ashley and her father Russell McKay training them at Riccarton.

“It’s definitely less work but the horses are more highly strung and the costs associated with gallopers are through the roof. Harness racing may race for less stakes, but I think it’s more lucrative.”

The couple have a one year old daughter Hadley Mae Harrington. She shares her middle name with Harrington’s best horse Renezmae which won seven races including the Group One Breeders Crown For Two Year Old Trotting Fillies.

Harrington says Renezmae’s first foal by Father Patrick is showing potential.

“We took her for a run at the Rangiora track on Saturday and she exceeded our expectations in the way she handled everything. Hopefully she’ll be stepping out at the trials in the next fortnight.”

Another promising horse in the stable is two year old Captain Can Can (Captain Crunch) which is owned by Australian Chris Vella and his family.

“She’s shown that she’s above average. She’s having a wee freshener and will come back into work in the next two or three weeks. She’s not paid up for any series but we’ll try and win a race with her, get the two year old bonus and look at the Ace Of Diamonds at the end of the year.”

After spending some time at Ken Baron’s property, Jack and Ashley are back home on the family’s twenty seven acre property with a new track that’s just over seven hundred metres.

“It’s got nice big sweeping bends on it. We’ve got the fencer here at the moment putting a few posts in for some new paddocks for the horses. We’ve also got quite a big area just for grazing. We’ll be able to cut our own hay and bailage which will be quite good as well.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink

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