Racing: Foray into a different code a success

Make It Happen pulls away from her rivals in a 1250m maiden race at Waikouaiti yesterday. Photo...
Make It Happen pulls away from her rivals in a 1250m maiden race at Waikouaiti yesterday. Photo by Matt Smith

Nicky Lloyd reckons she might have just converted a couple of ''trotting boys'' with Make It Happen.

The Riccarton-based trainer acquired the 5yr-old mare from the Opies, who train in Lloyd's home town of Te Aroha, and gave Make It Happen a four-month spell. She resumed with a third at Ashburton on December 21 before getting off her spot back on the fence to power home by 1 lengths over 1250m at Waikouaiti yesterday.

Two of the owners, Neil and Alan Edge, are well-known in the world of harness racing, and Neil Edge has several runners engaged at Omakau today and Roxburgh on January 4.

Lloyd, who also manages the equine store Garrard's Horse and Hound in Christchurch, has been encouraging them to get into galloping ownership every time they come into the store.

''The boys are trotting fellas and this is the first galloper that they've had,'' Lloyd said.

''I keep saying to them, I've got another one you can have a share in.''

Along with her work at Garrard's, Lloyd and her sister Rochelle are short on quiet moments.

''It's a bit of a family affair. Dad helps out and our brother Aaron mucks out and does the feeds,'' she said.

''We've also got a stallion, Rusty Spur. He's served 13 mares [this breeding season] and got them all in foal, so we're absolutely stoked.

Lloyd spoke to jockey Jamie Bullard after the race, and the next goal is likely to a step up to 1400 metres at Wingatui on February 2.

Don't ask Lloyd to explain how the race panned out, though.

''I was saying `I can't watch, I can't watch' but I think [she] was on the fence.''

 

Add a Comment