An initiative to get more people involved in harness racing ownership and to get more people along to the track came to fruition at Manawatu Raceway on Friday night (March 31).
Manawatu Harness Racing Club president, Dan Lynch, said the club’s syndicated 2-year-old Mach Three gelding – Captain Kirk – made his race-day debut at the meeting.
The bay gelding is trained and driven by local horseman, Stephen Doody and finished a half-head second in the Somewhereinbrooklyn (David Butcher) in the fourth event. Captain Kirk was the favourite..
“We decided at one of our Board meetings that we needed to do something to get more owners involved in our great sport, and then in turn to get them along to the track.
“So we decided to buy a horse and we sent our former president and current HRNZ Board member, Allan Brown to go and buy a yearling at last year’s Sales. We had a budget of $15,000 but in the end we paid $21,000 for Captain Kirk,” Lynch said.
Captain Kirk is the sixth of seven foals out of the 10-win Live Or Die mare, Gail Devers. She has left one New Zealand winner so far - that being the former Tony Herlihy (MNZM) trained The Kingston Flyer.
“We are happy with the way he has progressed. He’s a sensible little horse who seems to do everything right. But we are not getting too carried away. We hope he just doesn’t turn out to be a flop.
“However the main goal has always been to have fun with this horse and get his owners to the track,” Lynch said
Captain Kirk comprises 20 shares but has about 28 Syndicate shareholders ranging from a coal mining engineer in Australia, retired farmers, McDonalds franchise owners, truck contractors, and accountants.
“Stephen had an open day and parade recently and about 40 people showed up with their partners etcetera. There has been huge interest in the horse and that is very satisfying because all along the purpose was to get more people involved. We hope they all flock to the track on Friday.
“Huge thanks must go to Mark Bennett, who runs the HRNZ Syndicates. He has helped me a lot as Syndicate Manager. He has taught me to be communicative with all the owners – and that’s what I’ve tried to do,” Lynch said.
Captain Kirk has had two trial wins on February 28 and March 7. The latter day he beat Hunter Red by 16 lengths in a two-horse trial at Manawatu Raceway - and in doing so qualified 3.1 seconds under time.
He was bred by New Zealand Harness Racing New Zealand president, Ken Spicer and his wife Anne, and Roger and Anne Kirk, all of Christchurch.
Duane Ranger
