Racing: Le Sol sets race record in Kindergarten Stakes

Le Sol marked the 50th New Zealand Kindergarten Stakes on Saturday by winning in race record time of 1.54.3 for the mile.

His time was within 0.6sec of the New Zealand record for a 2yr-old pacer set by Smiling Shard at the harness jewels at Ashburton in June.

The previous best time in the Kindergarten was 1.54.9 by Tribute in 2004, the second year the race was run over a mile.

Le Sol came from off the pace to win by a long neck from Terror To Love, who lost a winning chance by pacing roughly in the closing stages.

He recovered from being off- stride at the 150m to lead, then lapsed again short of the line.

"I can only put it down to his hopples stretching after I made an adjustment recently," Graham Court, his trainer, said.

Tony Stratford, the trainer of Le Sol, said he would now start the gelding in a heat of the Sires' Stakes at Forbury Park on Thursday week.

"He [Le Sol] is bucking and kicking around the paddock. I would consider he has improved with the race," Stratford said.

Dexter Dunn, who drove Le Sol, leaves for Sydney today.

He is contesting the Australasian Young Drivers Championship, with the first heat at Menangle tomorrow.

Reon Tither (now based at Bunbury) and Roydon Downley are also representing New Zealand.

Dunn is returning to New Zealand to drive Bettor's Strike, Hip Hop Anvil and Feels Like Magic at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

He will be back to Sydney for the final of the series in conjunction with the Interdominion Final on Sunday.

The $30,000 Kindergarten was the biggest win for the 39-year-old Lorneville trainer.

"I think removable ear plugs has made the difference to him [Le Sol].

They have got him to relax," Stratford said.

Le Sol wore the ear plugs when finishing second to Courage Tells at Winton at his previous start.

Courage Tells has been sold to Australia.

Le Sol is raced by the Jayarkay syndicate comprising Ian Wilson and his wife, Joyce, of Winton and their children, Joanne Wilson, of Gore, Richard, of Wellington and Karen, of Ireland.

Ian (64) has owned, trained and bred horses for some 25 years.

He gained experience with the late trainers Derek Dynes and Ray Todd when based at Wyndham.

Wilson owned and trained his first winner, Bret Armour, in 1987.

He sold Bret Armour to Australia after a win at his second start.

Wilson bred Hilarity Lobell and trained him for four wins.

Hilarity Lobell won another nine races from the Tim Butt stable after being sold.

Stratford drove the Gore Cup winners Pass Carefully (1993) and Oreti Beach (2005) for Wilson, who won eight races with Highview Rose.

He bred Oreti Beach (five wins) and Highview Badlands (nine) from Highview Rose, who died last June.

Wilson decided to buy several yearlings after he sold his farm at Drummond and retired to a 9ha block at Winton two years ago.

"I wanted a good horse and felt I was breeding from an average family," he said.

"I have bought eight yearlings at the sales and they are at various stages."

Le Sol was a $27,000 purchase at the premier sale when offered by Wellington breeder John Fokerd.

Le Sol is by McArdle and the second foal of She Sizzles, an unraced half-sister by Badlands Hanover to four winners. including In The Way (1990 NZ Golden Slipper Stakes at Oamaru at two) and True Lies.

They are out of Laudit, who won the Fillies Triple Crown Classic at Addington in 1987.

She was by Lordship, who won the inaugural Kindergarten Stakes in 1961.

Le Sol belongs to the family of Bionic Chance, the last filly to win the Kindergarten in 1986.