A former rider of the Queen's horses gained his best win as a trainer when Spin Around won the $55,000 Winter Classic at Riccarton yesterday.
Steven Cooper, for six years, was part of the Queen's Household Cavalry at Buckingham Palace in London and attended many functions.
"We did
weddings and funerals and anything they needed us for," he said.
Cooper and his partner, Michelle Stebbing, came to New Zealand about seven years ago.
"Basically we came on holiday and the second week I got a job riding trackwork."
His big break came about four years ago when Hong Kong owner Danny Wong, who operates Brookby Stables at Ardmore in South Auckland, offered him a trainer's job.
Spin Around, one of Wong's 38 horses at Brookby, could be a contender for the Group One Stoney Bridge Stakes (1600m) at Hastings on September 22.
"We'll have a think about it, but first we'll see how he gets through this race and how he travels home," Cooper said.
Spin Around won four races in Hong Kong, but returned to New Zealand when he suffered a suspensory ligament injury and Cooper gradually got him back to racing trim.
The 8-year-old gelding by Spinning World settled mid-field for regular rider Gavin McKeon yesterday and came wide in the home straight to score by a long neck.
Second was pacemaker Jovial Jock, while three-quarters of a length away third was Bellevue Lass, who fought well after being handy throughout.
- NZPA
