A fortnight after her nailingher 400th training success at Cambridge Raceway, Nicky Chilcott drove her 600th career winner at Alexandra Park Friday.
The Cambridge driver, who is New Zealand’s most successful horsewoman, notched up the milestone with $1.50 favourite, Juice Brogden in the first race – the $12,000 Kuan Yap Maiden Pace.
Ecstatic with the victory, Chilcott said it was very appropriate that she nailed the 600th behind the 3-year-old Bettor’s Delight – Hayley Brogden filly.
“She’s gone 2:40 tonight and it felt like she was walking. I would go as far as saying that she is now the best filly I have trained, and I have trained some nice ones like Attsa Nice, who won six races.
“I’m also rapt for the co-owners – Graeme and Judy Bowen, who also bred the horse. They have been such loyal supporters and this win is even more special because of them,” Chilcott said.
Chilcott said it was also appropriate that she won behind Juice Brogden in the red, yellow, and black Waikato colours.
“Graeme was the CEO of the Waikato Rugby Union (from 2007-2015) and there’s no-one more ‘Waikato’ than both him and myself.
“I’m so pleased for all the owners because they have a very nice filly. She did it so easy tonight. She really did cruise it. I think we are going to have some fun with her,” the 45-year-old said.
Juice Brogden was having her fourth start after three previous placings since making her debut at ‘The Park’ on December 2.
Chilcott shot her to the lead from barrier three and from that point the race was for second. The filly paced the 2200m mobile in a slashing 2:40.8 (mile rate 1:57.6) and home in 57.5 and 29.1.
American Princess (Brent Mangos) and Luis Alberto (Simon Lawson) were some one-and-a-half lengths and one-and-a-quarter lengths back in second and third.
Chilcott’s 600th win came a night after her pacer Everything achieved 599 victories for her. The 5-year-old Sands A Flyin gelding gave Chilcott her 400thdriving success at the Kapiti Coast Harness Racing Club’s meeting on the Otaki grass on January 27.
“I’m just a simple country girl who has achieved everything on my own, soI’m quite proud of what’s happened. It’s pleasing to have landed 1,000 wins nowboth as a trainer and a driver,” Chilcott said.
Chilcott first sat in the sulky on race-day in the 1992-1993 season and has had 6,971 drives for 600 wins, 646 seconds, 41 thirds and has amassed almost $4.1 million in stakes in the bike.
The Cambridge conditionerstarted training in the 1997-1998 season and has had 3602 starts for 404 wins, 405 seconds and 375 placings. She has won $2.8 million in stakes.
Meanwhile, three $25,000Young Guns 2-year-old were staged at Alexandra Park tonight – all from the 1700m mobile.
The first – the Breckon Farms Heat for colts and geldings was won by the Barry Purdon trained and Zac Butcher driven $1.20 favourite, South Beach Arden.
The Somebeachsomewhere colt stopped the clock in 2:07.9 (mile rate 2:01 even) and home in 58.7 and 27.9. He had a head to spare over stablemate Mach Shard, who was driven by his trainer.
Purdon and Butcher repeated the dose in the fifth event – the Crombie Lockwood Bloodstock 2yo fillies heat which was won by Spandau Ballet from the widest front-row draw of eight.
The Bettor’s Delight – Giveitawhirlgirl filly won in 2;05.6 (mile rate 1:58.9) and sprinted her last 800m and 400m in 58.7 and 29. She had three quarters of a length to spare over Eye Candy (Todd Mitchell) and Harmony Blue (Tony Herlihy MNZM). She was the $9.50 fifth favourite.
The final 2yo race – anotherCrombie Lockwood Bloodstock fillies heat was taken out by the John and Josh Dickie trained New York Rain, who won from gate seven.
The American Ideal – Ohoka Moon filly won by three quarters of a length from Gold Orchid in 2:07.26 (mile rate 2:00.4) and home in 58 and 27.4. She was driven by Simon Lawson and was the $6.40 fourth favourite.
Purdon and Butcher were the most successful trainer/driver combo tonight winning three races. Their other victory came in the non-tote event with the trained 2-year-old Love You – Paramount Star trotter, Paramount King.
But Butcher was undoubtedly the horseman of the night driving five winners.
His fourth driving success came behind the Ray Green trained Alta Intrigue in the eighth event and then number five came two races later when he reined Kate Black to victory for the Dickie father and son training partnership.
