When a four year old gelding by one of the world’s best stallions out of a quality race mare, who has gone on to produce seven winners from eight foals, was offered for $3,000 it was no surprise that a quick sale resulted.
The horse is Owens Delight and last night at Devonport his new owners Bob Cunningham, Steve Walters and Richard Hodgetts were thrilled when Todd Rattray drove a copybook race to set up an easy win in the Mitavite Pace for three year old and older non winners.
Owens Delight showed little as a two and three year old when trained in New South Wales and Victoria. It was a similar story when transferred across Bass Strait as a four year old. His first Tasmanian trainer, Shelley Barnes, persevered and got him to the races. His best effort in six starts for Barnes was a tough second in a Burnie maiden.
The owners decided to move him on and Owners Delight was purchased by Cunningham, Walters and Hodgetts and transferred to Underwood trainer Heath Szczypka. The majority of his six subsequent starts for Szczypka have been in maiden races resulting in a win, three seconds and a fourth for stake earnings of $5,574 plus a $1,500 Tasbred owners bonus for a total of $7,074 – a good return on a $3,000 outlay after 10 weeks!
Szczypka is realistic about the future prospects for Owens Delight. “He may be limited but we thought we could pick up a non winners race and when he drew the pole at Devonport over the short trip (1930 meters), everything fell into place,’ said Szczypka. “He did win impressively, thanks to (driver) Todd Rattray, and he may pick up a C1 over the next couple of months.”
The ten race card at Devonport was dominated by driver Rohan Hadley who drove four winners to equal his feat at the previous Devonport meeting on 14 May. Two of them, Beef City Bianca ($12.30) and Barrys Best ($13.90), were among the four he drove on 14 May. George Grant ($5.80) and Ocean Bounty ($10.30) were his other winners last night.
Stowport reinsman Craig Hayes added to his excellent record in the sulky this season with another double. He guided the Rod Burgess trained Stopnthink ($9.60) in the C2/C3 race and followed up with a training/driving success behind Takeaway Koala in the two year old.
Drivers Nathan Ford (Marossi) and Mark Yole (Glory Is Illusive) were taken to hospital after a fall in race six. Both are home today. Ford has seven stitches in a cut above one eye, swelling around his right eye and facial abrasions. Yole has bruising and abrasions but was back at work today on light duties.