By Michael Guerin
Steven Reid might be wondering whether he should let his partner buy all his horses.
Because it seems to have worked with exciting juvenile Jumal, who remained unbeaten in two when thrashing his opponents at Addington on Saturday.
The son of Downbytheseaside put six and three-quarter lengths on his rivals even after sitting parked in the $20,000 Breckon Farms Easter Stakes, with a 57.4 second last 400m.
Trainer Reid has always thought Jumal was a smart one and the colt has again demonstrated Reid’s eye for a yearling even if technically “Reidman” didn’t buy him. His partner Bella Storer did.
“Our owner Malcolm Wrigley wanted to get a good horse and I was having no joy finding him one after two days of the sales,” explains Reid.
“But we really liked this one and we were supposed to have a budget of around $40,000-60,000.
“When he was going through the ring I was actually on a Skype call of all things for business so Bella and I were talking before and I said, ‘lets just buy it.”
“Bella rang me after to tell me we had got it but he cost $95,000.
“So we ended up staying in him for a share which is in Bella’s name and it has worked out great because he is a really smart horse.”
Reid says Saturday wasn’t even the best version of Jumal as he brought him to the races without a mate and he got quite fractious.
“So I think he can go even better.”
He will get his chance to prove that at Diamonds Day at Invercargill next Sunday where he heads for the $100,000 Diamond Creek Farm Classic at Group 1 level.
“After that we have a decision to make whether we stick around for the Welcome Stakes or head to the paddock but I am confident he will come back a stronger horse in the second half of the season, which is where so much of the big money is.”
Driven by Sam Ottley, Jumal was one of the stars of the Addington day programme that also saw NZ Derby placegetter Harrison John continue a great last month for trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen.
While he has just turned four at the other end of the spectrum was the feature trot winner in Franco Josiah, the 10-year-old winning for popular trainer Ben Waldron, proving too strong in the testing conditions for Father Time, who fitness is improving and a win isn’t too far away.
The $30,000 Racing Rewards race had a great spread of different trainers and drivers winning, which is the whole idea of the concept.
