Sherwin calls Coal Fire home first in Young Guns heat

Bruce Sherwin says owning a winning harness horse is “a different sort of fun.”

And he got to experience that closer up than he would ever have expected when he called home his own pacer Coal Fire (Art Major) to a super impressive debut harness racing win at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

Sherwin is obviously not the usual Alexandra Park caller but picked the right night to be filling in for Aaron White.

And he is also obviously not usually a harness racing owner, being not only one of out best commentators but a respected thoroughbred analyst and also the NZTR handicapper.

They are just the latest in a string of high profile roles the versatile Sherwin has had, partly because he is one of the most knowledgeable people in New Zealand racing.

Sherwin is no stranger to owning winners but Coal Fire is his first winning pacer, at which he now runs at a 50 per cent strike rate.

“I had one 20 years ago who wasn’t even good enough to get to the races,” he laughed on Friday night.

“But I have always enjoyed the harness racing and I really enjoy calling them too, even though most people see me as a thoroughbred guy.”

His second pacer came about through an association with Matamata vet Barbara Hunter, who last week married a harness racing trainer called Mark Purdon.

“I met Mark a few times through Barbara and he is obviously an impressive guy and I said I wouldn’t mind getting into a horse but I wanted one that was strong and athletic like a thoroughbred.

“That seems to have worked.”

Coal Fire, a son of Art Major from the handy mare Emmber, cost $85,000 off Alabar at Karaka last February and he has looked a natural all along for trainer Nathan Purdon.

He strode to the front effortlessly in Friday night’s Young Guns heat and while driver Andre Poutama had to remind him what he was there for a few times he bolted clear, giving Sherwin the chance to call “that was worth the price of admission” as he crossed the line.

COAL FIRE REPLAY

While he may be a respected judge of thoroughbred yearlings Sherwin is curtailed from racing them because of his role at handicapper so won’t be active at the 100th National Yearling sale that starts at Karaka on Sunday.

And he says having a share in a pacer, even a clearly very good one, is far less mentally taxing that buying a galloper.

“I have zero input and that makes it really relaxing and fun,” he says.

“Whereas with a thoroughbred I’d be far more involved, I can just enjoy this horse and leave Nathan (Purdon, trainer) to do what he is doing.”

But Sherwin realises he may now have a horse contesting very serious races before too long, most obviously the Young Guns Final in March.

“I’d love to be part of one of those big harness racing nights with a horse in a Group race and I am sure a few of my galloping mates will be coming along if it happens.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand