Tapper, of Levels near Timaru, trained his first thoroughbred winner when Brah Spring outsprinted her rivals to win a 1400m maiden at the Central Otago track, to add a thoroughbred win to his 71 harness racing victories.
The trainer of 2010 Dominion Trot champion Stylish Monarch, Tapper has had his thoroughbred licence ‘‘on and off a couple of times'' over the years.
Tapper asked his good friend, former international rugby referee Vinny Munro, if he could lease Brah Spring off Munro and his fellow Forward Pass syndicate members, which Tapper believes includes international referee Glenn Jackson.
‘‘It was running fifths and sixths in the North Island and wasn't quite good enough,''
‘‘Vinny said that would be a good idea. I wanted to lease it but the boys wanted to keep it.''
So the Darci Brahma mare came south after running fifth at New Plymouth on December 4, and debuted at Timaru on December 28, where Tapper met syndicate manager Lance Smith.
‘‘Apart from that I don't know the rest
- I might get to know them now.''
Tapper said there is room for improvement in the 4yr-old if he can get to the bottom of a breathing complaint.
‘‘She's a nice wee mare and she should do a good job around here.
‘‘I've got a wee bit of an issue with her wind. If we get that right, there might be even more there.''
Tapper is reluctant to get too many other gallopers, especially since his track rider, former jockey and Canterbury starter Stephanie Clark, broke her collarbone when she fell off a horse on Saturday.
''It looks like I'm going to have to hop back on and and I don't want to do too much of that.
‘‘I'll give you the tip - [the horse] doesn't want that, either.''
