LAST SEASON
62 starts, 3 winners, $44,000.
THIS SEASON
''Fourteen [in work] - that's my maximum. But I've got some nice horses this year like that horse that trialled the other day, Commix, goes really good. It impressed me the other day. She's by Fully Fledged - good pedigree too.''
DEPARTURES
''Ric O'Shea to Lisa Latta. Pinot Express has retired and is going to Raise The Flag. The Lion Queen has gone north, most likely to stud.''
3YR-OLDS TO WATCH
''Commix. Edelweiss goes all right. Hear Me Roar has got a chance - she's not very big, but has a chance. She had two runs last season and went really good. She probably should have won on Boxing Day [at Wingatui] but she just got way back. Courtney [Barnes] rode her at Invercargill and said she wants a mile. By looking at her you wouldn't think so. She could be handy. Commix will probably start at Gore next Thursday.''
2YR-OLDS TO WATCH
''A chestnut by Red Giant. Whether she makes it as a 2yr-old, I've got my doubts. She's out of a mare called Suriyan. Her first foal ran second at Taupo the other day and will run in the Gold Trail Stakes [at Hastings on September 20]. We might see her after Christmas.
''Roc Leone - he's a lovely colt. He's gone back home and I'm going to see him on the first of October and, hopefully, he's going to race on Boxing Day. He's a lovely specimen of a horse and he's lovely and quiet and unassuming. He did everything right when he was here.''
OLDER HORSES
''Snip In Time - he had a lot of trouble last year. He fell [at Wingatui] then got hurt at Invercargill going out the gate. He's come in well and put in a lot of weight.
''Hell Raiser has a ton of speed . We're aiming for Melbourne Cup day for her.
''Ivanskavinskyskvar only had two starts last season. He ran third and then in his next start I was disappointed in him. He got way back and never ran on, but the next day he was shin sore so we put him aside and, hopefully, he'll be all right this year. He'll trial next Tuesday and probably race here at the end of the month. He's been in work since July.''
Sneaky Feelings (eight starts for one win) is another to come down from the North Island to Prince.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
''It would be Commix. I've got a lot of time for him. The first time I ran him along, he showed me plenty.''
