Special harness racing win for the Hurst family

Upset winner in yesterday’s Neville Cleaver Fishing Aparima Trot Break Out, has had quite a journey and the win yesterday was very special for the Hurst family from Rakaia.

The mare is owned by Mandy and Tony Hurst and their children Jeff Hurst and Jackie Dwyer.

Mandy is Ricky May’s sister, so she was born and bred into the game.

“When my uncle (Leo May) finished with racing because of cancer he asked us if we would like Mary Poppins which we gladly did, and that’s how we bred Break Out,” she said.

Break Out began her career with Gerard O’Reilly, winning three races from his stable.

“She went sore at Gerard’s so we decided to turn her out and put her in foal. After she foaled, we asked Amber if she’d be keen to take her on. Amber started with this big fat mare, and she’s turned her into this gorgeous racehorse.”

Break Out’s foal is a yearling filly by Royal Aspirations.

“Gerard has broken her in and he thinks she’s alright,” said Tony who was playing golf in a two-day tournament at Methven with son Jeff.

“We’d like to thank Robert Morton who did a lot of work with Break Out when she was young. He was a local identity around Raikaia and he’s now the track manager at Cromwell,” said Jeff.

Jeff says Break Out is enjoying her life with Hoffman and working on the beach at Waikouaiti.

“Amber’s such a hard worker. She got the mare in May and to have Break Out come back after having a foal and win a race before Christmas was just amazing. We were doing cartwheels and to win today was icing on the cake. She’s such a family horse,” Jeff said.

Mandy and good friend Jude O’Connor were on Stewart Island this week and had to arrange an early trip home to the mainland when they realized Break Out was racing today.

In today’s trotting feature driver Sheree Tomlinson settled the seven year old last in the nine horse field. For the last half of the race Break Out raced in the one one. At the 450-metre mark Tomlinson pushed the go button and the mare surged forward to challenge leader Sundons Flyer and with 50 metres to run, she hit the front going to beat Charlie P by a length.

Today was Break Out’s fifth from just twenty-nine starts.

“It was much better than the golf,” Jeff said.

Mandy Hurst and Amber Hoffman

Toasting the win Mandy Hurst and good friend Jude O’Connor

The Hurst’s will have more excitement next week when they offer a Betting Line filly out of Christian Cullen mare Nicky Anew at the Christchurch sales.

Meanwhile the next crop of two-year-old fillies were at the Winton Workouts yesterday.

Micaitlen Denario (Captaintreacherous – Shezaball) won nicely for trainer Nathan Williamson.

Micaitlen Denario winning for Nathan Williamson

The win was timely for breeders Mark and Pauline O’Connor as they have an Always B Miki colt at next week’s sales out of Shezaball named Miki Jagger.

Girlshavetime (Art Major – One Christian) came home from well back to nab second. Owner Murray Little will also have a full sister in next week’s sale so Girlshavetime’s good run today was timely.

The Black Flash improved on his first workout run last Friday when he impressively won the Two-Year-Old Colts and Gelding mobile mile heat. The $140,000.00  purchase looked to have potential when he ran the mile in a smart 2-02.0 beating Captain Bligh (Captaintreacherous – Askmenow) by one and a quarter lengths.

The Black Flash letting down nicely

Te Anau trainer Wayne McEwan looks to have a nice type in Major Fire. He’s closely related to Northern Southland Cup winner Ears Burning. In the 2400 metre mobile heat be beat Foveaux Strait by a neck running the distance in 3-07.0.

Major Fire winning for JC Bennett

Quality three-year-olds Sand Wave and Hurricane Hendrix both got their standing start ticket when they ran over 2400 metres. Sand Wave won by a nose.

Sand Wave (inside) beating his stablemate

by Bruce Stewart