Selwyn_Times: July 05, 2023

SELWYN RURAL LIFE
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NOT ONE to get too
carried away with his own
success, Colin DeFilippi
was typically low key
after a milestone win at
Addington on Sunday.
When Beaudiene Quick
Step got up to narrowly
win the Ox McEwan at
Ryal Bush Transport
Pace, it marked the 300th
training success for the
Broadfield husband and
wife combo of Colin and
Julie DeFilippi.
“Pretty pleased,” was
Colin DeFilippi’s response.
Beaudiene Quick Step
settled back early then
made a three wide move
tracking favourite Don
Juan at the 600 before going
on to win by a head.
“My plan was to go forward
but I got further back
than I thought I would and
it was survival of the fittest,”
Colin DeFilippi told
Harness Unhinged’s Nigel
Armstrong post race.
He bought the horse at
the 2020 NZB Standardbred
sale for $10,000 and
Sunday’s win was his first
in 24 starts.
“I picked him out on
type. He had enough
breeding and no one liked
The Rocknroll Dances
which made him cheap,
which put him in my
bracket. He had good
manners but he’s let me
down on race day to be
honest. I thought he was a
three or four win horse. It
still could come.”
The DeFilippis have been
LONG-TIME harness
racing trainer Ken Dixon
was farewelled this week
after losing his battle with
cancer. He was 78.
Responsible for the
development of top class
horses, including Makati
Galahad and Whale Of
A Tale, Dixon (right) was
originally a Winton sheep
farmer and very much a
hobby trainer before he
retired from farming and
moved to Prebbleton about
17 years ago.
Starting out in the
1970s, he had 57 training
successes and drove 27
winners. His last winner
was Sheer Class, driven
by Brent Barclay at
Invercargill in 2017, while
his last success as a driver
was at Gore behind fourrace
winner Taurus Chief
in 1989.
“He was always on the
look out for a nice horse
and he always thought he
training in partnership
since 1999. Their 300 wins
came from 2809 starts.
“We’ve never done a big
team, with 16 about our
limit.”
Before that Colin De-
Filippi had 277 wins on his
own account (1977-99). In
those days he highlighted
the success of Our Mana,
who won 20 races overall
and finished second in the
1984 and 85 New Zealand
Cups behind Camelot and
Borana.
In partnership with Julie
his biggest successes have
been with Kym’s Girl in
had a cup horse until he
was proven wrong,” said
his son Mike.
But on two occasions
he was proven right. Nine
race winner, Whale of a
Tale, was sixth in the 1996
New Zealand Cup won by
Il Vicolo and third in the
Free For All three days
later behind Iraklis and
Brabham.
He also won the Junior
Free For All on New
Zealand Cup day in 1995.
Despite his success, it’s
fair to say Dixon loved a
bargain.
Wednesday July 5 2023 Selwyn Times
RACING 35
Husband and wife hit
300 as training combo
TOP TEAM: Julie and Colin DeFilippi marked
their 300th training success when Beaudiene
Quick Step won at Addington on Sunday.
the 2001 New Zealand
Cup and Stent in the 2015
Rowe Cup. The couple’s
first win was with Tomodachi
at Banks Peninsula
on May 3, 1999.
As well as training a
total of 577 winners, Colin
DeFilippi has also driven
2066 winners, putting
him eighth on the all-time
list, behind Tony Herlihy
(3647), Maurice McKendry
(3382), Ricky May (3068),
David Butcher (2584),
Blair Orange (2583),
Dexter Dunn (2226) and
Peter Ferguson (2115).
– Harness Racing Desk
Farewelling a winner
“I think the most
expensive horse he bought
was $20,000,” said Mike.
“He got Makati Galahad
for $1000.”
Known for his upfront
character, Dixon was not
afraid of standing up for
the issues he believed in,
including taking Harness
Racing New Zealand to
court – and winning – a
few years ago over what
he thought was an unfair
ruling. Dixon is survived
by his wife Erin and sons
Mike and Ben.
– Harness Racing Desk