Howie Mathews dared to dream of competing in this year’s $300,000 Gr.3 NZCIS Wellington Cup (3200m) with Weneedashock, and while that plan didn’t come to fruition, the talented gelding has ended up qualifying for a race on the undercard worth $50,000 more in prizemoney.
The $350,000 The Oaks Stud Remutaka Classic (1600m), a race eligible for horses that have won one or fewer races as at the start of the season, will have its inaugural running at Trentham on Saturday, and Mathews is delighted to have snuck into the field.
Weneedashock’s last start win at Wanganui put him 15th in order of entry for the race capped to 14 runners, and he found himself sneaking into the race late in the week following the scratchings of Iffididit and Mehzebeen.
“I did an early nomination for the Wellington Cup with that horse, but unfortunately, he had a couple of hiccups,” Mathews said.
“He raced at Wellington and went poorly and pulled up sore after it in the middle of December. I was really worried about him, and it took nearly two weeks for a bruise to come out.
“He was about 95 percent right and I ran him at Otaki. He didn’t get much of a run and lost his chance in the race. He progressively got better and better, so I thought I would have a throw at the stumps and go around Wanganui and if he pulled through that well and won, I would pay up in the Remutaka.
“He raced extremely well at Wanganui and his sectionals were amazing, two or three seconds faster than the other staying races on the day. It prompted me to chuck him in as a nomination and see what happens.”
Mathews has now found himself in the rich innovation race and can’t believe his luck.
“It is pretty exciting stuff. It’s amazing prizemoney for that class of horse,” Mathews said.
“He was a gavelhouse buy and he has been a blessing to Lorraine (wife) and I. He has just kept performing all the time. When he is on song, he is a tough customer.
“I feel very fortunate to be in the race, it is a bit of a dream really. We knew we had an outside of chance (of making the field) but when I went through the horses that had qualified for it and knew were going for it, I thought if we got into the top 20 we would be quite rapt. To be number 15 and to get in is a bit of a dream come true. I have only got one in work, so it is quite a thrill.”
Weneedashock will carry topweight of 61kg, alongside Jon Ol Rocco and Sir Albert, and jump from barrier four with jockey Elen Nicholas aboard.
“He jumps on the pace and he likes to run forward, so that gate suits us fine,” Mathews said. “Every time he got back midfield on the fence things just don’t go right for him. If he can jump and hold the outside ones out and take up a nice early position, I think he will be a good runner’s chance.”
Mathews said the introduction of the innovation races has been a great concept and gives the smaller trainers a big carrot to aim for.
“The small guys in racing are the backbone of racing. Let’s take our hats off to the big teams and the people who go to the sale and pay the big money, but there are a lot of small people, like myself, that can now get a chance,” he said.
“It could be a gamechanger for some people and they could be at the sales next week with $50,000 to buy a nice horse, so everyone can get a bit.
“I have never looked like winning lotto, but being in a race like this and having a chance is great. It would be a life changer for Lorraine and I.”
