Racing: Stable cheers for Hurrah

The owners of Hurrah turned down some huge money for the horse three weeks ago, but could have been excused for wondering whether they had made a rash decision.

That was until Saturday, when Hurrah scored an impressive victory in the group-three $60,000 Merial Metric Mile at Awapuni in the hands of Noel Harris.

Managing part-owner Brian McLaughlin, of Christchurch, said an offer of $500,000 came from Hong Kong trainer Tony Cruz on the eve of racing at Hastings last month, but they turned it down.

Hurrah is a brother to one of Hong Kong's top gallopers, Best Gift, who raced in New Zealand as Carlisle Bay, and is trained there by John Moore.

Said McLaughlin: "We were wondering if we'd done the right thing the next day when Hurrah could only finish second to Samurai over 1400m [at Hastings]."

Hurrah had been an acceptor for the Mudgway Stakes that day but failed to clear the ballot box, so the horse took his place in a minor event instead.

McLaughlin owns the Bahhare four-year gelding in partnership with Gary Kirkpatrick, Terry O'Shannessey, Ken Smith, Murray Spinks, Peter Timbs and Brian Vieceli. The same syndicate races Goosen from the Shane Kennedy-Ricky Carston stable at Riccarton as well.

They paid $160,000 for Goosen (by Volksraad), who has had one start for one win, and feel he is potentially the better horse of the two.

"There was some thought of selling Hurrah just to keep Goosen," said McLaughlin, who said he saw Hurrah compete as a two-year-old at trials for co-breeder and trainer Robert Thomas, of Ashburton.

He inquired if the horse was for sale.

"The price was $150,000, and I walked away without asking any more questions.

"Twelve months later I saw the same horse in another trial and went to look at him again. I remember Robert Thomas commenting: 'Back again, I see'."

McLaughlin inquired again about a price and this time was told $100,000.

"I bought him on the Friday on behalf of the syndicate and he won on the Saturday at Rangiora.

"It was just his second start after he had failed first time on a very wet track.

"He's never liked any moisture on the ground, so you can understand we were praying for the weather to hold this week."

Before Saturday, Hurrah had won five out of 11 for $43,000 in stakes, but that was lifted by a further $34,000 with his victory at the weekend over pacemaker Maroofity and late finisher Insan Itee.

Hurrah arrived in the North Island last month and has been stabled at Wellfield Stud in Palmerston North. He started his spring campaign with a win at Taupo in the hands of Hayden Tinsley before his second at Hastings.

Kennedy and Carston were both registering their first group race win on Saturday. Kennedy has been training full time for three years and is in just his first season with Carston as a partner.

He said Hurrah was now likely to take a break from training before returning to Christchurch to prepare for the inaugural $250,000 Coupland's Mile at Riccarton in November.

Kennedy said Harris told him the horse still has some maturing to do.

"Noel was very impressed with Hurrah, but felt the horse is still six months away from proving himself at the elite level.

"At the moment he's winning on raw talent alone."

- NZPA