Best out for win number two
By Jonny Turner
Win number two awaits Jack Best after he notched the first victory of his training career on his home patch on Friday.
The Blenheim born horseman completed the feat when Valley Star produced an outstanding staying performance to score for driver Ricky May at Nelson on Friday.
The victory came at the first meeting Best and his mother, Anne-Marie, started runners at since forming an official training partnership.
“It was a good thrill and when I sat back and thought about it, it was nice,” Best said.
It was not only appropriate Valley Star’s win came in Best’s home province.
Ricky May has driven many of Anne-Marie’s 44 prior wins in her own capacity.
And the leading reinsman continued his association with the next generation of her family with Valley Star’s tough effort.
“Ricky has done a fair bit for mum, they have had a few wins over the years, that’s for sure,” Best said.
Jack Best has stepped into the training ranks after moving from Blenheim to Canterbury where he has taken up a position at Mark Jones stable.
“I am learning every day, really.”
“It is good, it is a good outfit and Mark is a top bloke to work for.”
“He is always happy to help.”
Best is not planning to rush into training a big team with his mother but is keen to see what opportunities arise further into the future.
“I will just tick away and see where it takes me.”
“I am in no rush to get a massive team, but to have a few horses on the side would be nice.”
Valley Star will be out to notch Best’s second win as a trainer in race 10 on Sunday.
The six-year-old will line up fresh and ready for his 2400m assignment after appearing to take little out of himself in his win on Friday.
“He has come through the race really good,” Best said.
“He came back to his yard yesterday and I let him go last night and he was running around like a lunatic.”
“It hasn’t even fazed him.”
Valley Stars goes to the 10m mark after starting from the front line against an almost identical field on Friday.
That is of no concern to Best as though his trotter was left parked and then led on Friday, he usually runs his best races from off the pace.
“He is better coming from the back when they are all in front of him.”
“If anyone had watched his races, he has won most of them only by a small margin because he only does enough.”
Best, who also has a win to his name as a junior driver, will be in the sulky behind Bonnie Boy in race 6 on Sunday.
He is hoping for more luck from barrier 2 on the second row of the mobile than he got with the seven-year-old on Friday.
“I am quite happy with that draw.”
“Hopefully I can get a nice sit in and let the others battle it out early.”
“Hopefully he can get a nice wee run home.”
“He actually ran home really well on Friday.”
“We got checked on the corner on the first bend and then we had to play catch up.”
“They walked and sprinted, which is not his go.”
“So, hopefully, he can get a bit of luck on Sunday.”
Make My Sundon will be out to turn around a first-day gallop in race 4 on Sunday.
The Best stable has made a gear change and a moved the five-year-old to the unruly in the hope of a better performance.
“She is a pain in my neck,” Best said.
“When she can trot, she damn well does it well enough.”
“It is disappointing when she does that carry on (gallops).”
“We have made a couple of changes and we are putting a Father Christmas shadow roll on her.”
“And we have chucked her back on the unruly, which should be a bonus for her.”
Ricky May will also drive Make My Sundon.
