Tact Teva carries on strong family tradition

There is plenty in Tact Teva’s (Lather Up) pedigree to suggest he’s a horse with a strong harness racing future.

Not only is he the first winner in New Zealand by World Record holder Lather Up, he’s out of ten race winning mare Tact Hayley Jane which at stud has left Tact Tama, the winner of all five of his starts in Australia, Tact Hayley’s Delight, the winner of sixteen and New Zealand Cup aspirant Tact McLeod.

As a yearling Tact Tava was passed in at the NZB Standardbred 2023 Sales in Christchurch when offered by Winton couple Trevor Proctor and Diane Dynes.

“He had no weight on him when we took him to the sales because he was always active. He’d tear around the paddock and put the brakes on. I told Amanda (co-trainer Amanda Telfer) he was the first horse I had ever given a road cone to, to quieten him down and play with. Hence he didn’t have a colty look about him. He was free legged pacing the day he was born and I had a feeling he’d be a good horse.” Proctor said.

Amanda who trains the two year old with her brother Steve picks up the story.

“I was actually in Aussie and Steve Stockman (of Stonewall Stud) rang he and asked if I liked all the yearlings he’d bought. I told him I didn’t because I’d given him one number and he didn’t buy it,” she said.

That number was 393 which belonged to Tact Teva. Once he was passed in he was sent to Mark Jones before Stockman came along and bought the colt for $60,000.

“Mark broke the horse in and did a fabulous job. He was a big goofy boy and I actually sent him to Nigel McGrath who does all our spelling and told him to let me know when he was ready to come back into work. He kept him for about four months and then he rang me out of the blue and said he was ready to do some work. He was a quick learner and when you ask him to go, he goes.”

Today was just the second time race day driver Tim Williams has driven the colt.

“If I’m home he’s mine. No one touches him.”

This was Tact Teva’s first trip away as a racehorse and Telfer says he’s handled it well.

“He’s been a wee bit nervous, but he was nervous when I took him to Rangiora (trials) last week. It’s only his second time off the place. It’ll do him good.”

In today’s Marshall Industries Mobile Pace Williams had the colt in front after 200 metres and he went down to the line to win by three and a quarter lengths from another Telfer trained two year old, Beaudiene Hunter.

“He was having a good look around. I had him down for removeable deafeners, but we couldn’t get them in his ears before the race so they just flopped around,” Amanda said after the run.

TACT TEVA REPLAY

There’s no hiding her high opinion of the two year old.

“When you step a wheel (come out) he’s got good acceleration and you can sit him anywhere and he just relaxes and does his job. He’s got to get better with his ringcraft, but we look forward to his future.”

Amanda says Tact Teva will probably have his next start at Oamaru in the Diamond Creek Farm Oamaru Juvenile Stakes.

“I want to give him a couple of runs before I hit a Sires Stakes heat.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink