KEY POINTS:
A Christchurch man with Parkinson's disease who turned to racing as an outlet picked up one of New Zealand racing's richest prizes when Delbrae scored an upset win in the $250,000 Coupland's Mile Handicap (1600m) at Riccarton yesterday.
Delbrae is owned by Richard Steel, who only got into racing about a year ago when he decided to sell some of his property in Christchurch.
"I have Parkinson's disease and I decided racing was something I could partake in without having that physical side to it," Steel said.
"And I'm enjoying every minute of it."
Steel, 55, said he was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the age of 40.
"Racing is something I can enjoy myself in the days until Parkinson's takes over."
Steel said he had no interest in racing before but did not do things in half-measures when he set about developing a property at Weedons in Christchurch.
He spent hundreds of thousands of dollars purchasing the property, establishing an 800m training track, building a new barn of 12 stables and purchasing horses, which now number nearly 20.
Steel's horses are trained by Sharon Robertson.
She took out a public trainer's licence only about a year ago but said she had been involved with horses most of her life.
Robertson's association with Steel started when she was looking after three young horses for him.
"I said to her [Robertson] 'would you like a full-time job?' She said 'you'll have to get bigger than this'."
Delbrae was part of the building process.
He was purchased last February from the Taranaki stable of Dan Myers after winning four races to add to stock that was ready to race.
The Thunder Gulch 6-year-old gelding now has a record of 32 starts for seven wins, nine seconds and six thirds.
The Coupland's Mile is the richest open class mile in New Zealand and the winning purse of $156,000 takes Delbrae's earnings to $255,000.
Delbrae, an outsider at $36.60 for a win, settled back of midfield and in the hands of Chris Johnson surged through the middle of the pack to score by half a length.
Delbrae's best form has been on wet tracks and Robertson said yesterday's good track provided her with doubts.
"I thought he would need a bit of easing of the ground but he's an honest old campaigner and he was always going to give his best anyhow."
Second was Hurrah, who ran home strongly along the inside, while half a head away third was Coup Entrepreneur who ran home strongly from the back.
Dezigna was half a length back fourth while fifth equal were Rosina Lad and the favourite, Mikki Street.
An unlucky runner was Talisman who finished eighth. He became a difficult ride for Cameron Lammas when hanging in the straight but finished strongly.
"Very unlucky," Lammas said.
* Waikato trainer Peter McKay is thinking of not holding back any longer with his well-performed sprinter Clifton Prince.
The Volksraad 5-year-old gelding yesterday held out stablemate Kay's Awake to win the group three $70,000 Stewards Handicap (1200m) at Riccarton in Christchurch.
Clifton Prince had run on the first day of the meeting last Saturday when second to Ticklish in the $50,000 Pegasus Handicap (1000m) and he is entered for a $40,000 open handicap over 1400m on the last day of the meeting this Saturday.
That would mean three races within eight days but McKay said he only had to look back to last season to take up the task.
Clifton Prince won last year's Stewards' Handicap and McKay then set about preparing the horse for the Concorde Handicap at Avondale in December and the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie in January.
Clifton Prince ran second in the Concorde and finished fifth in the Railway after being troubled by injury.
He did not race again that season.
"He bruised a foot and that was the end of our season," McKay recalled.
"You have a bit of an interruption and everything's gone. I'm now more of a mind to make hay while the sun shines."
Clifton Prince ran second and first at the cup meeting last year.
"I considered running him three days last year. I might go through with it this year," McKay said.
Clifton Prince carried 58.5kg on Saturday and McKay said a lot would depend if there was any re-handicapping.
Chief handicapper Dean Knowles said he would not make any decision until today.
- NZPA
