No Change (inside) and Class Above went head to head over the final stages of the 2050m jumpers' highweight at Wanganui last week. Photo /Supplied
No Change (inside) and Class Above went head to head over the final stages of the 2050m jumpers' highweight at Wanganui last week. Photo /Supplied
Hastings-trainer Paul Nelson has achieved some amazing things as an owner and trainer of thoroughbreds but he brought up a first when No Change dead-heated for a win in a jumpers' highweight at Wanganui on Thursday of last week.
"That's a first for us," Nelson said. "We've never had a dead-heat before."
Nelson and his wife Carol have owned and trained horses since the mid 1970s and Nelson has lined up 1885 runners for 210 wins since then. To not having had a dead-heat decision in that time is quite remarkable.
"Nowadays you don't get many dead-heats," Nelson said. "Not like in the old days."
That is because the photo-finish technology of today can define it down to a mere pixel when determining a margin between one horse and another.
But there wasn't even a pixel separating No Change and Class Above at the finish of the 2050m jumpers' highweight at Wanganui last Thursday.
The two horses set down to do battle all the way up the home straight and, just when Class Above looked likely to gain the upper hand, No Change came again on the line to share the honours.
Nelson was proud of No Change's performance, given that he was conceding Class Above 6kg in the weights.
"It was a pretty good effort given the weight difference," Nelson said.
The first two horses had the finish to themselves, with 2-1/4 lengths back to third placed Suffice To Say.
That was No Change's first race since he finished third in a 3100m hurdle race at Te Aroha in September last year but Nelson had been able to get him ready to win first up with weeks of strong work over the hills at his Air Hill Station property and a couple of jumpouts.
Paul Nelson trains No Change. Photo / Supplied
Nelson said he is unsure where No Change will race next as he has to be mindful about how much weight the gelding will get in coming assignments.
"He'll go to the point-to-point at Waverley on April 23 and then might have another flat race before the Waikato Hurdles," Nelson said.
"The Waikato Hurdles has to be the next jumping race for him because he'll now be hammered with weight in other hurdle races."
The $50,000 Waikato Hurdles (3200m) will be run at Te Rapa on May 18 and is a race Nelson won last year with The Shackler.
Nelson also has his other well performed jumpers Perry Mason, The Shackler and King's Deep gearing up for winter racing as well as two other novice jumpers in Revolution and No Tip.
"Perry Mason will have a run at Rotorua this Friday on the flat, in a Rating 65 and jumpers race over 1950m, and will also probably have his first jumping race for the year at Waikato," Nelson said.
He added that The Shackler suffered another tendon injury when contesting the Sydenham Hurdles at Riccarton in August last year but has since been treated and has spent the last two months on a water-walker.
Nelson said his star jumper Amanood Lad has been retired. The Germano 14-year-old won the Koral Steeplechase (4250m) at Riccarton at the beginning of this season but then finished only sixth of nine in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) a week later.
Amanood Lad recorded 10 wins, 10 seconds and nine thirds from 72 starts, with his other major wins including a Great Northern Steeplechase, Wellington Steeplechase, McGregor Grant Steeples (twice) and the Pakuranga Hunt Cup.
Atlanta Peach to back up tomorrow
A change of plans will see last Saturday's impressive Riccarton winner Atlanta Peach line up in tomorrow's Group 3 $100,000 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup on the same track.
Hastings-based Guy Lowry, who trains the Bullbars mare in partnership with Grant Cullen, had indicated she would return home and be aimed at the Group 2 $100,000 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on April 27.
"We've had think about that since the weekend and this Saturday's race at Riccarton might suit better," Lowry said.
"She's down there so it means she won't have to travel any distance for her next race and if she can pick up some black type there it will add to her future value as a broodmare."
Atlanta Peach demolished a Rating 72 field over 1800m at Riccarton last Saturday, cruising up to the leaders on the home turn before racing away in the final stages to win by 5 lengths. And she was being eased down at the finish by jockey Terry Moseley.
The Bullbars mare relished the heavy track conditions and Lowry said she would need another wet track this Saturday to be competitive under the weight-for-age conditions of the Canterbury Gold Cup.
"The forecast is for some more rain down there later in the week and that will definitely help her," he added.
Atlanta Peach is one of two horses the Lowry/Cullen stable sent south for the Canterbury autumn meeting, the other being Mohaka who recorded a creditable seventh in last Saturday's Listed Airfreight Stakes (1600m).
Mohaka's main assignment is tomorrow's Listed $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) and Lowry said blinkers will be added to her gear for that race.
Experienced South Island jockey Jason Laking has been booked to ride both horses tomorrow.
Atlanta Peach was recording her third win and has never finished further back than fifth in seven starts for her Cambridge owner Tony Rider, a loyal client of the Lowry/Cullen stable. Her three victories have all been on heavy or slow tracks.
Mohaka's seventh last Saturday followed an impressive fresh up maiden win over 1200m at Otaki a month ago and she was stakes placed earlier this season, with third placings in both the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1340m) and Listed Zacinto Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.
Demise of Monarch Chimes
Last year's Te Whangai Romneys Hawke's Bay Hurdle winner Monarch Chimes had to be euthanised after breaking down on the flat in a 2800m steeplechase trial at Cranbourne, in Victoria, last Friday.
Monarch Chimes was trained by the Cambridge husband and wife team of David and Emma-Lee Browne, who have been left 'devastated" by the accident.
"The track was perfect and he was the soundest horse we have ever worked with, it was just an unfortunate accident," the Brownes posted on social media.
"Thoughts are with everyone who has been involved with him over the years and of course his owners, who loved him dearly,"
Monarch Chimes was a last start third in a Rating 72 flat race over 2200m at Rotorua on March 20 and left for Australia soon after that.
He had a record of eight wins, six seconds and 11 thirds from 38 starts with his other victories including the $50,000 Harrison Lane Hurdle at Ellerslie and a 3200m steeplechase at Pakenham last winter.
He also won a 2400m race on the flat at Sandown last winter and was placed in the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) at Warrnambool, Crisp Steeplechase (3900m) at Sandown and Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat.
Monarch Chimes was a dominant 1-1/2 length winner of the Hawke's Bay Hurdle (3100m) in June last year, with the Hastings-trained No Change second and 5 lengths clear of third placed It's A Wonder.
Owners & Breeders Function
The Hawke's Bay Racehorse Owners & Breeders Associations will stage their annual race day function at the Hastings racecourse on Saturday, April 27.
This will be the day of the Hawke's Bay Racing's feature race meeting and the function will be held in the Karamu/Estella Lounge, situated in the top floor of the Members Stand.
The room will be available from 11.30am and there will be a $10 surcharge for financial members and partners with lunch to be served at about 1pm. There will be a charge of $35/head for the meal for additional guests.
A cash bar will be in operation with complimentary drinks served until about 2.30pm courtesy of Brighthill Farm and shareholders in the stud's new stallion Preferment.
Wristbands will be issued upon arrival in the lounge and racebooks and pens will be provided. There will also be a member's draw prior to each of the races run at Hastings that day.
For catering purposes members are asked to RSVP by April 20 with their numbers to either Tony Lyndon (06 876 8250) or Sharyn Craig (027 499 9084).
By-monthly award winner
The Hawke's Bay Racehorse Owners Associations bi-monthly award for January and February has been won by Grant Cullen and Nikki Lourie.
The couple own the 4-year-old mare Swish Az who broke through for a maiden victory over 1200m at Wairoa on February 21.
The New Zealand Racehorse Owners Federation is to conduct a special escorted tour to New Caledonia, with a horse racing focus, in October this year.
Billed as "The French paradise on New Zealand's doorstep" New Caledonia is less than three hours flight from Auckland .
The tour itinerary is varied with time to explore this great group of islands and create lasting memories.
The focus will be on fun and friendship, with a highlight being an evening at Hippodrome Henri Milliard for their final Group 1 "Nocturne" race meeting of the year on October 19.
The tour, at a cost of $1995 per person, is open to NZTROF members, family and friends.
It departs from Auckland on Friday, October 18, and returns on Tuesday, October 22.
