Racing: Training priority for Bishop

Nora Bishop with Beautiful Girl (left) and Hudson Sully (right) at Tomahawk yesterday. Photo by...
Nora Bishop with Beautiful Girl (left) and Hudson Sully (right) at Tomahawk yesterday. Photo by Matt Smith.
Nora Bishop and her two pacers make up an unlikely trio.

Bishop is a 29-year-old mother of four living in Tomahawk, Beautiful Girl is a racehorse turned broodmare turned racehorse again and Hudson Sully is a 7yr-old who has racked up 75 starts - and four wins - in just over three seasons.

But Bishop loves the equine pair, and they seem to be returning her love in spades.

Hudson Sully, racing for the first time in the colours of Bishop's great-grandfather Daniel O'Connell, won at Winton on Sunday, while Beautiful Girl ran a solid fourth after getting held up at the top of the straight.

''There's a bit of luck behind those colours, I think,'' Bishop said.

Bishop has leased the pair from her former boss, Bruce Negus, who is married to her aunt, Colleen. Negus remains the trainer while Bishop waits to see if her application for a training licence is approved, but she does all the work with the pair on the beach at Tomahawk, where they are stabled at Ali Malcolmson's property.

''I'm really lucky to have Bruce Negus supporting me and Ali Malcolmson because they've really put out their necks for me.

''It's been tremendous and I've really appreciated their help. They've done a lot for me.''

Bishop had six drives as a junior driver three seasons ago, but is happy to leave the driving side of the industry to the experts.

''I realised I didn't have the experience and all that sort of stuff - it's not for me. My skills are really in training and that's what I really want to keep pushing for.''

If Sunday is any guide, Bishop knows what she is doing with the horses, although she might take some time to get used to winning races.

''I was sitting with my baby [Elias, 15 months] in the pram on the concrete steps. I watched [Hudson Sully] pull out and he started sprinting up and I thought `Oh, my gosh, he's going to do it'.

''I was in shock and I just stood there. The kids have been hassling me ever since about the look on my face.''

Bishop had always enjoyed working Hudson Sully ever since she sat in the sulky behind him when he was a 2yr-old. The son of Courage Under Fire had had two starts in Bishop's care prior to Sunday's win, and Bishop felt improvement was just around the corner.

''I put him on a diet and just lightened his load in work, really, and got him happy.

''The horse trusts me. He's been my friend for a long time.

''I tell my horses every day that they're winners and I try and look after them, really.''

Bishop started helping Negus out at times in 2009 and like many before her, she caught the racing bug.

''I thought this is fun. I got to go in the cart down the beach [at Waikouaiti] and thought there's nothing better than this.''

The bug has passed on to her three older children - twins Grace and Temika (12), and Jayden (11), who all take part in Kidz Kartz.

Beautiful Girl, who is raced by a group of friends and family under the BG Syndicate banner, has produced a Washington VC filly which is now a yearling.

But judging by her fourth placing at Winton in a quick time on Sunday, she might be busy racing for some time yet before heading back to the broodmare paddock.

Beautiful Girl and Hudson Sully are back in action at Oamaru on Sunday.

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