Sadly, Sand Wave put down

Somebeachsomewhere harness racing stallion Sand Wave has had to be put down.

“He had an injury that wasn’t getting any better. It was deteriorating and his quality of life wasn’t great. We had vets look at him and did all we could but basically his fetlock joint was bone on bone, and it was uncomfortable for him to move around. We decided we had to do the most humane thing for him and put him down. It was pretty sad,” trainer Nathan Williamson said.

Sand Wave won races as a two year old and was in his prime at three, winning six. He won at Ascot Park (4), Central Southland Raceway (3), Gore (2) and Addington (1).

His last win was in the Gore Cup in December and his winning time of 3-18.7 was a new track record, beating Pulp Fiction’s 2015 record of 3-20.9.

Raced by Chris Alcock, the Nine Three and Nude @ Ten Syndicates, Sand Wave won the 2022 G2 Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes and finished third in the G1 New Zealand Derby behind Akuta and Republican Party.

“He was really brave that day. Akuta and Republican Party are top horses and to run third to them was great.”

He also finished second in the Listed Sophomore Classic at Ashburton and third in the G3 Northern Southland Cup.

The five year old won ten races for Williamson and was retired from racing earlier this year with  a possible career in the breeding barn on the cards.

“We’d been in negotiations with Macca Lodge but the deal hinged around his soundness.”

Williamson says one of the owners Kelvin Claridge, was able to get semen from Sand Wave prior to him been put down.

“He’s got straws available but obviously it’s a limited amount. It would be lovely to see some of his foals do a good job.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink