HASTINGS - A change of environment is working wonders for veteran galloper Aide De Camp.
The nine-year-old gelding posted the ninth win of his career and took his stake earnings to just short of $100,000 with a gallant performance in the Curraghmore Stud Open, feature race at yesterday's Hawkes Bay meeting at Hastings.
Aide De Camp is owned by Levin owner-trainer Sylvia Kay in partnership with Kathleen Gray of Waverley and has been trained for most of his career by Gray's husband Kevin and son Stephen.
When Stephen Gray decided to move to Singapore last year and Kevin Gray cut back on the numbers he wanted to train, Aide De Camp went back home to his Levin breeders, Sylvia and Paddy Kay.
"Kevin and Stephen had him since he was a young horse and had done a great job with him but he jars up badly on firm tracks so they suggested we should train him on the beach," Paddy Kay recalled.
The Kays are best known for preparing Sapio, winner of two New Zealand Cups and a Doomben Cup in Australia, and do most of the fast work with their horses at Manakau Beach.
"Working them on the beach takes the jarring out of their legs and this horse (Aide De Camp) walks for hours in the sea with water up to his belly and loves it," Kay said.
The Kays have had Aide De Camp back in their care for about 12 months and the horse has not failed to weigh in the eight starts he has had for them.
His win followed an all the way victory over 2100m at Otaki on June 17.
The horse's last four starts have resulted in two wins, a third and a fifth.
"He ran fifth in the Te Awamutu Cup at Waipa but was less than a length from the winner and on a track that was far too tight for him," Kay said.
Aide De Camp's best form has been over 1600m and he has tended to race too keenly over longer distances.
That is why the Kays engaged experienced central districts rider Brian Hibberd for today's race.
"I knew Hibby would suit this horse because he's got good hands and is a kind rider," Kay said.
Hibberd said Aide De Camp did want to pull in the early stages of today's 2000m event but soon settled for him and a strong pace helped.
"He travelled sweetly and kicked really well in the straight," Hibberd said.
Aide De Camp scored by three-quarters of a length from Toppy, who had tried to lead throughout.
There was a gap of 1-3/4 lengths to third-placed Curlicue, with Its Serious Fun fourth.
Toppy had to work hard in the early stages from the outside draw and ran very wide on the first bend.
- NZPA
Racing: Pace change suits Aide De Camp
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