Comeback trotter Enghien has passed another important test.
The Love You eight-year-old has finished third in his trial at Rangiora on Wednesday for driver Ricky May. Starting off 30 metres he finished two lengths from fellow back-marker Majestic Lavros and Eurokash.
“We went super,” says co-trainer and co-owner Greg Hope, “Ricky said he wanted to win and had to hold him back”
A 15 race winner from just 29 starts, Enghien has not raced for nearly two and a half years.
He’s been sidelined with a leg injury ever since, and to all intents and purposes was retired in 2020.
“He had a lesion in a suspensory,” says Hope, “so it’s been a long slow process.”
Changes to his shoeing and regular rides in the afternoon have been part of his new regime.
As a three year old he won nine in a row and got as high as a Rating 110.
He’ll return as a R85.
“If he can’t compete at that level we will finish with him,” says Hope who trains the horse in partnership with wife Nina.
“He’s a beautiful horse who will always have a home here as a riding horse if he doesn’t make it on the racetrack.”
His return to the races is expected sometime in April.
