Duck Road's No Waddler

The win by Duck Road (3 g Ekraar - Silver Buttons, by Victory Dance) could be an omen for owners Gilbert Southworth and John Elstob who also share in the ownership of stable-mate Aotea Lad (Savabeel), presently preparing for the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) in ten days time (Jan. 26) at Ellerslie.

Duck Road, bred by Dr. John Southworth and owned by him and the two aforementioned, performed well in each of his three trials, including a strong win, before finishing third on debut in September at Rotorua, and he brought about his victory on the same course, in the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres, on 16 January.

At his fourth start, after rounding off solidly for second when resuming from a freshen-up on 1 January in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres at Hastings, he appeared ideally placed up in distance, with some give in the ground (Dead6), and trainer Jamie Richards had him in the right condition to break through.

“I thought it was a good, tough, win,” Richards said. “He's a horse that's always shown ability, raced well on New Year's Day at Hastings and trained on well since. I think the rain leading up and some give in the track certainly helped the horse.

“Sam (Collett) was positive out of the barrier, strong on him late and he kept up a good gallop, so very happy with his performance and for the owners.  He's bred to get over a bit of ground and he could work his way through the grades, especially as a four and five-year-old as he continues to strengthen and develop.

“The staff did a good job of presenting him in really good order, as he's had a couple of little niggling issues and they've done well getting him through that.”

In the race sponsored by Enjoy Trotting here 27 January, Duck Road began well to post in second, laid down a challenge entering the straight and looked the winner when gaining an advantage at the 150m.

Comfortable at the line, he returned lovely odds: $7.50 & $2.20 fixed on the NZ TAB and $6.80 & $2.10 tote.

“It's a huge thrill to win with Duck Road because Dr. John Southworth was my first vet in 1979 and we're terrific friends,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis, after completing his yearling inspections before revisiting ahead of the sales which begin with a 100-lot Book1 session on Sunday 27 January (3.00 p.m.) at Karaka.

“John and I served together on the Board of the Waikato Racing Club,” Ellis said. “And his son, Gilbert, used to come out and work for me on the farm. He and John (Elstob) are current Board members at the racing club and Gilbert is also my accountant. They're both fantastic guys. They've been so supportive and next Saturday they've got Aotea Lad in the Karaka Million.”

With five in the mix for the Karaka Million, and having won it for the past two years with Melody Belle (Commands) and more recently Avantage (Fastnet Rock), both also collecting Champion Two-Year-Old titles, Richards has had a job matching riders and Aotea Lad, first on the Order of Entry with $76,150 in prize money, has the services of James McDonald.

Aotea Lad won the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m) on debut in December at Trentham, and he followed with a terrific run for second in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 1 January at Ellerslie. TAB bookmakers currently have him $6.50 third favourite in a market headed by stable-mate Probabeel (Savabeel), $2.60, to be ridden by Opie Bosson.

Ellis also commented on the ride aboard Duck Road by Samantha Collett. “It's always a thrill when Sam rides a winner for us because she did her apprenticeship at Te Akau. She's a fantastic person and Mark (Walker) and I are thrilled to see her riding going to another level. She won the premiership last year (132 wins) and really as good a rider as there is in New Zealand. She's got a terrific work ethic, good balance on a horse, very strong in a finish and she rides an astute race.”

Duck Road was strapped by Joe Kamaruddin.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz