by Michael Guerin
Hall of Fame driver Ricky May couldn’t work out what he was more impressed with after Sunday’s $25,000 Donegal House Marlborough Cup.
Because he was mighty impressive with the untapped giant winner Wild Willow but just as full of praise for the two trainers holding him together.
Wild Willow made it five wins from just 10 starts but well over two years apart in the grass track Cup, overcoming an early check to do it.
That saw him settle lengths off the pace but the big son of Art Major just kept trucking to record a great staying win over the late flying Tempo Warrior.
“He had to be good to win that because he got that little check at the start,” said May.
“He has always had a motor and he has the attitude to go with him and if they can keep him sound he has to be a chance in a race like the Country Cups Final.”
Wild Willow looked a good horse from early in his career when trained by the All Stars, beating among others Dalton Shard when he won his maiden at Kaikoura then pacing 2:55 for 2400m at Ashburton winning his next.
It would be nearly 18 months before he was seen again.
He broke down and was tried by other trainers before eventually ending up with Warren Stapleton and son Dean.
The two have worked their magic on Wild Willow and he has won three of six with them.
The pair were even savvy enough to make a shoeing and gear change after Wild Willow failed on the first day when touching a knee on the home bend.
“That was a great bit of training but you have to marvel at the job they have done with him,” says May.
“I know Dean does a lot of the work with him as well but Warren is there every day working on his legs and they have saved his career.
“A lot of work goes into a horse like this so they deserve plenty of credit.”
The day’s $20,000 Trotting Cup continued a fine summer for Mark Jones and Samantha Ottley when Helloveamoment grabbed Regal Sierra right on the line in the culmination of the Seddon Shield Districts trotting series.
Raced by the Garters in their well-known red and black colours, Helloveamoment was recording his eighth win in 58 start and his next victory will take him over the $100,000 stakes mark.
The other star of Sunday’s programme was junior driver Wilson House, who drove four winners including three for his father, trainer Michael House.