Thomas team revives forgotten pacer Typhoon Tere

What a story it will be if Typhoon Tere could pull off a harness racing victory at Blenheim today.

Incredibly, the nine-year-old son of Washington VC is having just his second race day start, over five years after his debut at Addington.

Then (July 24, 2020) he was trained by Ken Barron. Now he is under the care of Jason and Ian Thomas.

Recent years have had their challenges.

“At one stage he cracked a pastern and had to be boxed for a while,” says Jason Thomas.

That was well before he arrived at their Charing Cross stables in Canterbury.

“We have had him about eight or nine months.”

Not that he wasn’t exactly in tip top shape when he arrived.

“He was a big boy!” laughs Thomas, “we had him on rations for a bit with plenty of dry hay.”

Over the months they have gradually worked him into shape.

“We’ve got him to the point where he is as good as we can get him and we just hope to keep him sound.”

Initially the plan was for Typhoon Tere to resume at Motukarara on December 29.

“But he got a virus so we pulled him out,” says Thomas.

They then looked around for a suitable grass track meeting and decided on Blenheim.

“We thought that after a five year break we couldn’t take him to Addington where they’d run a (1)57-58 mile,” says Thomas, “we need to take our time.”

In December Typhoon Tere definitely showed he still has some ability, winning at the Ashburton trials when he came off the back of subsequent Nelson winner Shanky’s Shot.

“He went really nice that day” says Thomas.

Today he’ll line up in Race 3, the Event Rent Marlborough Mobile Pace (3.17pm).

On the back of his trials form he opened a $2.70 favourite.

The gelding’s owner Lance Proffit and his “new” trainers will have everything crossed that their patience and hard work will get its reward.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk