Alamer paid $59.90 for her upset win in the Trevor Eagle Memorial on Saturday. Photo / Trish Dunell
David Greene loves rugby and played it to a good level.
Which is why the stable colours of Stolen Dance, who won Saturday's $70,000 Eagle Technology Stakes at Ellerslie, are those of the Hamilton Boys High First XV, a team he featured in.
Green is young and articulate. He is also a hugely talented horseman.
If you listen to him you realise the future he has in the industry.
But, if you believe Greene, the future of Stolen Dance is going to outstrip his own rugby career. It is likely to hit the highest level.
"I think this mare can go all the way," he says, and he's not one to boast. "She's in only her second preparation and she has a fair bit of physical development to come.
"Her aerobic engine is first class and she has the attitude. I think she has a hell of a way to go yet."
Even allowing she carried only 53kg, Stolen Dance was massively impressive on Saturday. It had not been the intention to lead, but with no early pace on Danielle Johnson used her initiative to go to Plan B and take up the running. She slowed the field in the middle stages and sprinted so well off the home bend the others were no chance.
"I was worried about the track after so much rain," admitted Greene. "The Ellerslie course manager deserves a pat on the back for taking the punt and not irrigating early in the week. If he had we might have been running on a much worse track.
"History tells us than when we get significant rain getting to the outside in the home straight is where you need to be. That was a great surface given the conditions."
The pattern on Saturday was extremely even. Horses were winning in front, down the outside, against the rail. The general comment was that the surface was reasonably hard work, but fair.
Greene initially took out an owner trainers licence and did such a good job he was offered other horses. That required him, six years ago to take out a professional licence.
The steps the 34-year-old has taken since with a team that is currently capped at 26 because of the Te Rapa stabling have been massive.
"We are investigating ways of increasing the size of the team and we will be having talks with the Waikato Racing Club."
Stolen Dance will probably race next in the Cal Isuzu on her home track then a decision will be made whether she goes forward to the Zabeel Classic or is freshened to take on the Thorndon Mile at Trentham.
Tim Harrison enjoyed an outstanding day at Ellerslie, but it could have been even better. He celebrated as the breeder and co-owner of Castle Bee, who claimed the opening event, as well as the upset Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial 3YO winner Alamer and a victory in the closing event with Prince Of Passion would have completed a lucrative treble.
Trained at Cambridge by Roger Lang, Alamer was sent out at odds of nearly 60-1 but those closest to the filly were in a confident mood.
"We thought she was a 10-1 chance - she should have run third in the Soliloquy, but she got checked at the start," Harrison said.
"She's good, but she's only a little filly," Harrison said.
"She will be better in the autumn and we may put her out now, although the Eight Carat could be a possibility. I'll speak to Roger and we'll see what happens."
• 1st Stolen Dance - Danielle Johnson: Run super today. Only had 53kg so I tried to get a little break on them around the corner. I ended up sticking to the fence when they went wide and lucky for me it's paid off.
• 2nd Rasa Lila - Samantha Collett: Super run from my mare again. The barrier and tempo probably cost me in the end. She's got such a fantastic turn of foot, so I was a little wary of pushing the button and getting there too soon. I think there's a black type win coming soon.
• 3rd Silverdale - Opie Bosson: Run well. The slow pace didn't help.
• 4th Queens Rose - Michael Coleman: Run well sitting behind the leader who was probably just a bit too good. She kicked on quite nice and probably didn't quite back up from last week.
• 5th Sakhee's Soldier - Matthew Cameron: Good run. Little bit tripped up on the track. He's going to improve, he's just a year older and taken longer to get fit. Next start he'll be alright.
• 6th Carlotta - Trudy Thornton: Very good run. I feel she's going to improve from that and just get better with racing.
• 7th Survived - Craig Grylls: Got a lovely run one off in the trail -- he travelled really well into the turn and he felt like he was going to quicken. He just struggled to kick off the rain affected track.
• 8th King Krovanh - Mark Du Plessis: Too short for him but ran well.
• 9th Kelly O'Reilly - Leith Innes: Didn't back up.
• 10th Surpass - Vinnie Colgan: Lacking condition
• Last Sultry Assassin - Kelly Myers: Didn't really cope with the track. The slow pace didn't really help either
• 1st Alamer - Sam Collett: Too big too strong, got away with a soft lead after jumping well -- meant I was able to dictate. She handled the conditions which helped.
• 2nd Dukedom -- Vinnie Colgan: Nice run. Had to do a bit of work early. Stuck on well, the winner sprinted too well off the turn.
• 3rd Sultan Of Swing -- Mark Du Plessis: From the draw he fired out of the gates so I got caught wide but he switched off and hit the line well.
• 4th Valley Girl -- Kelly Myers: Really happy with her run -- draw didn't help. We had to come back to get cover and then they went slow, they sprinted home in 35 and she's had to do all the work by coming around them.
• 5th Ruby Armani - Matthew Cameron: Top run. Probably just needs to settle a little bit.
• 6th What's The Story - Sam Spratt: Nice horse that needs more ground.
- additional reporting: NZ Racing Desk
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