By Brigette Solomon
Ohaupo trainer Jason Teaz was rapt to train a winning double for owner and breeder Bill Hickey at Cambridge Raceway last night.
“It was really nice to get a double and so great that they were for Bill,” said Teaz, “he’s in his 80’s now and his health hasn’t been the best lately but he’s still breeding horses and putting them in training, and he really deserves any success he gets, he just lives for his horses.”
“Unfortunately, he couldn’t be there last night, and he was sad to miss it, but he was still thrilled to get two winners.”
Both of Teaz’s winners were driven by Peter Ferguson, and the pair didn’t have to wait long to get on the board with Veronica Jane taking out the first race, the Haras Des Trotteurs Monte Trot Noms Now Open Trot over 2200m.
The four-year-old Majestic Son mare stepped away well and with several horses going off stride throughout the race, Ferguson settled Veronica Jane behind the leading Skee Princess for a cosy trip. The pair weren’t joined by other runners until the 800 metre mark and Ferguson remained tucked away until the home straight where he elected to take an outside run to move alongside the leader, but it wasn’t until she was challenged by the second placed Ivanka that Veronica Jane really let down to win by half a length.
“We had tried her right handed at Auckland but she didn’t really cop that, so we went back to Cambridge,” said Teaz, “she went well at workouts here last week which was promising and she did everything right tonight which was great and she’ll be backing up here again next week.”
“She’s really taken some time and hasn’t been an easy horse to get going, after educating her as a two-year-old I actually said to Bill that I don’t think she’s worth continuing with and that she’ll need a lot of time, but to his credit he took her home, gave her time and now he’s been rewarded with her winning at just her third start.”
Always B Charlie was Teaz’s second winner of the night with the entire taking out the Summer Outdoor Movie Series At The Raceway Mobile Pace over 2200 metres.
From barrier four Always B Charlie was driven conservatively off the starting gate but with a slow tempo up front Ferguson allowed the horse to stride round to lead from the 1800 metre mark. With no pressure throughout, Ferguson dictated terms and got away with a soft lead time allowing his horse to travel comfortably until the home straight where Always B Charlie dug deep to hold off late challenges by Colonel Lincoln (2nd) and Potter (3rd).
The lightly-raced five-year-old by Always B Miki has now had two wins and one placing from just 10 starts.
“He has a bit of ability but has had multiple injuries and issues along the way so to have won a couple of races now is a great achievement for him,” said Teaz, “he’s injured a tendon, a suspensory, fractured a pastern, and has a few hoof issues that I’m managing.”
“Luckily he is a lovely horse to deal with and while he’s sound and going well we’ll continue to race him and maybe look at some of the grass tracks for him which should suit him.”
