Racing: Mornington team to keep flag flying

New Plymouth trainer John Wheeler will have to rely on his Australian-based jumpers to fly the stable flag at the Oakbank carnival in South Australia over the Easter weekend.

Wheeler was targeting his leading trio of jumpers - St Steven, Crafty Dancer and Oliverdance - towards Oakbank, but all three have gone amiss and are not expected to race again this season.

That leaves Wheeler depending on a team from his Mornington stable, just outside Melbourne, to improve his excellent record at the popular two-day carnival near Adelaide.

Wheeler this week confirmed Shining Comet, Outback and Karaka Angus - all having raced in New Zealand before being sent to Australia - would spearhead his Oakbank attack this year.

St Steven, the winner of more then $2 million in stakes racing over jumps, was turned out for a spell when developing heat in a leg after a training gallop at the New Plymouth track last Saturday,

"It's nothing too serious but I wasn't happy with him, so I have decided to spell him and try him again next year," Wheeler said.

Crafty Dancer and Oliverdance both developed tendon problems.

 

Wheeler has not missed an Oakbank carnival for more than a decade.

He has won the meeting feature Great Eastern Steeples with Touch Judge (1993), Tyrolia (1994), Light Hand (1995-96) and Foxboy (1997).

Crafty Dancer finished second in the $150,000 race in 2003.

- NZPA