Hastings trainer Caitlin Johnson had every reason to smile after producing Abeecee to win a maiden 2140-metre race at last Sunday’s Awapuni synthetic racetrack meeting.
For, not only was it her second success as a trainer, but it was also her first for almost four years.
Johnson started out training in partnership with Fred Pratt at the start of the 2022 racing season and the pair prepared She’s Miss Gevious to win a $60,000 Special Conditions Maiden over 1400m on the third day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring carnival in October that year.
“That was my first runner in a race and my first winner,” Johnson said this week.
“So this latest one has been a long time coming.”
Johnson said, while in partnership with Pratt, they had a number of minor placings but no further wins and so she decided to branch out on her own 18 months ago.
She mainly does pre-training for other trainers but said she presently has six horses in work and another couple of young ones coming on.
“It’s not easy but I’m trying to make a go of it and I’d like to get more horses,” she added.
Abeecee is owned by Hastings woman Margaret Harkema and Johnson has her horses stabled at Harkema’s property in Kaiapoi Road, Hastings.
“I’ve got six boxes there and some paddocks so it works out well.
“I’ve got three or four for Margaret but I’ve also got a couple for other owners.”
Abeecee was a $6000 purchase from the 2023 Karaka yearling sales and is by Belardo out of the Anabaa mare So Comely.
The latter won one race from three Australian starts while her dam was So Keen, who won 10 races and was placed third behind Loader and Red Cent in the 1996 Group 1 Railway Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie.
Abeecee was having his third start for Johnson, following an eighth over 1600m on an extremely heavy track at Hastings last month and a fifth over 1600m at Wanganui on June 13.
“It was a good run at Wanganui and I always thought she would go well over more ground but I wanted to give her a couple of runs over shorter distances to get her fit,” Johnson said.
“She was placed over 2200 metres when she was trained in the north by Emma Faber and she definitely appreciated the 2140 metres on Sunday.”
Talented apprentice Floor Moerman was aboard Abeecee at Awapuni and had her hands full in the early stages when her mount wanted to over-race and throw her head around.
Moerman finally got the four-year-old to settle better in fourth place, against the rail, with a round to go but then got shuffled back to second last, when the field bunched starting the last 600m.
But Moerman didn’t panic and, after spying a gap between horses half-way up the straight, she drove Abeecee through it and on to a three-quarter length win.
“I was getting a bit worried when she (Abeecee) was getting blocked but she always finishes strongly in her trackwork so I knew she would finish the race off well once she got clear,” Johnson said.
Johnson is now in two minds as to where Abeecee will start next.
“There is a Rating 65 race over 2100 metres at Otaki on July 25 that I’ve got my eye on or I may give her another go on the synthetic track,” she added.
Mare’s connections finally get to celebrate
There was no more deserving winner at last Sunday’s Awapuni synthetic track meeting than Hastings-trained mare It’s Amelia.
The five-year-old daughter of Eminent finally broke through for a maiden win at her 20th race start, capping off a frustrating run of minor placings that included six seconds and two thirds.
The mare is trained by the partnership of Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos, with Lowry saying this week she probably should have won a race before now.
“She tries hard and has not had a lot of luck in some of her starts,” Lowry said.
It’s Amelia was co-bred by Havelock North’s Judy Holland, who races the mare in partnership with Porangahau-based Mary Darby.
Lowry said It’s Amelia has spoilt her chances by wanting to over-race in the past so they now alternate her training between working on the Hastings track and beach work at Darby’s property.
It’s Amelia contested a 1300m race on Sunday and was coming off a second over 1000m on the same track last month.
Apprentice Floor Moerman restrained the mare back to third last in the early stages before letting her roll forward starting the last 700m.
It’s Amelia quickly joined the leaders coming to the home turn and Floerman kicked her clear soon after.
The better supported Kodiac Bear started to come out after It’s Amelia in the final 200 metres but the latter had enough in reserve to hold on for a half-length victory.
It’s Amelia is out of the Alamosa mare It’s Bianca, who won four races for Judy Holland, while her grandam was Anca who won seven races, including two on the Doomben track in Brisbane.
Special Woodville win for Napier owner
Naper racehorse owner Garry Trow received the perfect birthday present when Stella Success took out the $25,000 Woodville-Pahiatua Cup (2100m) on Friday of last week.
Trow, who races the Staphanos mare in partnership with some of his Palmerston North-based family members and other Manawatu connections, celebrated his 75th birthday last week.
What made the win even more special for Trow is the fact that he and his siblings grew up in the Woodville-Pahiatua area and the first race meeting he attended was at Woodville, when his late grandfather took him there in 1967.
“My grandfather was president of the club and I can remember having some great days here growing up,” said an elated Trow.
“So to win the Woodville-Pahiatua Cup is really something.”
Stella Success was recording her third win from only nine starts and her second over a middle distance after she won a 2200m maiden race at Waverley in July last year.
Her second win also came on the Waverley track, in a Rating 65 race over 1650m last September.
She is trained at Foxton by Joshua Lavelle and Sacha Rennie and her success was also significant in that her dam, Listen To Me, is a daughter of Savabeel who unfortunately died last Friday.
Champion sire Savabeel a great loss
Savabeel, New Zealand's 10-time champion sire, has died at Waikato Stud at the age of 24.
The son of world-renowned sire Zabeel fractured a shoulder in a freak accident in his paddock at the Chittick family's farm, which had been his home since he retired to stud in 2005 following a A$10 million deal, brokered after his 2004 Group 1 Cox Plate win as a three-year-old.
Bred in Australia and trained by Graeme Rogerson, who masterminded his dual Group 1-winning career, Savabeel's achievements on the racetrack have ultimately paled in comparison to those he achieved at stud.
The stallion has left an indelible mark on the New Zealand industry. His 159 stakes winners are headed by 36 Group 1 winners, including the brilliant mares Probabeel, Atishu and Orchestral.
Savabeel is also the sire of Group 1-winning pair Mo'unga and Cool Aza Beel, who both stand at stud in New South Wales, while Noverre, one of his other top-level sons, has stood alongside him at Waikato since 2022.
His legacy will live on through his daughters who have produced 46 stakes winners, spearheaded by nine elite-level winners.
The rising 25-year-old covered 88 mares last season and was expected to remain active in a reduced capacity. He was set to serve a select book of mares in the coming breeding season.
NZTR wants talks with Advisory Committee
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing welcomes comments by Racing Minister Winston Peters calling for collaboration to secure the long-term future of racing in New Zealand.
The TAB NZ Advisory Committee has released its proposals for reform of the racing sector, some of which would require legislative change.
NZTR Board Chairman Russell Warwick said NZTR has consistently supported a collaborative approach to considering these proposals.
"To date, that collaboration has been lacking and it now appears we are at an impasse," Mr Warwick said.
"To move forward, the Committee must be willing to engage in genuine negotiation rather than simply seeking agreement to the proposals as they currently stand.
"We also note the Minister's view that legislative reform should be a last resort. NZTR believes much of what needs to be achieved can be delivered within existing frameworks."
While discussions on the future structure of the industry continue, NZTR's immediate priority remains providing certainty around funding for the 2026/27 season, which begins at the end of this month.
“To provide certainty for participants, NZTR is committing to maintaining funding at current season levels for the next three months. This will ensure clubs and participants can continue to plan and operate with confidence while longer-term funding arrangements are finalised."
Mr Warwick said NZTR has been actively engaged throughout the process, despite being unable to comment publicly due to confidentiality obligations.
"The Board has commissioned independent legal advice, sought further information and analysis, asked detailed questions and participated in constructive discussions. NZTR has consistently demonstrated through its actions a willingness to engage positively on reform."
Mr Warwick said several initiatives already underway across the industry align with the objectives of reform, and NZTR remains committed to finding common ground.
"New Zealand racing supports more than 100,000 participants, employees, volunteers and stakeholders across the country. Our focus remains on working collaboratively to achieve outcomes that strengthen the industry and support its long-term success," Mr Warwick said.