Selwyn_Times: January 31, 2024

Selwyn Times Wednesday January 31 2024
20
RACING
Ward’s first hat-trick ‘a special day’
• By Mike Love
WEST MELTON trainer Barry
Ward completed a “special
day” with a hat-trick of
training wins at Methven
on Sunday.
Although the feat is
not uncommon, the
fact Ward bred all three
winners makes it all the
rarer.
“I’ve had two wins
and a second at the races
Barry Ward
before, and trained a double four
times. But definitely the first hattrick
for me. It’s a pretty special
day,” he said.
“They all went to
Blenheim. Mister Blue
Sky went okay on the first
day, but disappointed
on the second day. The
other two mares (Times
Are A Changing and Hey
Tonight) went okay on the
first day and much better
on the second. So that
trip tidied them up, then coming
home for a quiet week before today
obviously worked out well.”
Mister Blue Sky claimed his
maiden victory at start No 30.
Driven by Sam Thornley, Mister
Blue Sky secured the trail after
leading early. From there it was
a waiting game for Thornley to
execute the use of the passing
lane, where they were able to
wear down leader Dean James
and hold off a fast late finish
from race favourite Victor Lustig
who nabbed second, winning by
half a neck.
“I was quite surprised because
he’d been disappointing to say
the least. He does have ability but
he doesn’t always show it. Hence
30 starts to win his maiden,” said
Ward.
The 5-year-old Sunshine Beach
gelding Mister Blue Sky is out of
Washington VC mare Alright
Now, who was also bred, owned
and trained by Ward.
Times Are A Changin
(pictured) recorded her eighth
career win for Ward and driver
Sarah O’Reilly. They were steady
away from the tapes over the
2400m journey, settling at the
rear of the field. O’Reilly opted
to move around the field from
the 1550m to the parked position.
From there Times Are A
Changin showed stamina to nag
away at pacemaker On Report,
taking the entire 300m straight
to hit the lead short of the line,
winning by half a neck from
the unlucky Style Council who
dashed late into second in what
was a blanket finish.
Times Are A Changin is out of
Group 1 winning Bettors Delight
mare Paradise City, who Ward
also bred, owned and trained.
In the final event Sam Thornley
combined again with Ward
and Hey Tonight, who secured
her sixth career win. Easing
off the gate, Thornley was unable
to find the running line so
moved three wide with cover to
sit parked from the mile. Hey
Tonight had to call on all of her
reserves to hit the lead in the
final 30 metres, to win by half
a neck from the fast finishing
Sargent Best.
Said Ward: “She had to be
tough and she is tough. I was
confident she would go well.
“We will just see what happens
with them all now. We will stick
to the grass for as long as we can
with Mister Blue Sky. The two
mares will still be competitive in
their company, but again we will
look for the grass tracks.”
Ward’s continued success with
breeding has been a journey and
he will continue moving forward
with his found formula.
“I’ve tried various families
but I’ve always come back to
this group. It’s been successful
for me. Every mare seems to be
capable of leaving a nice horse.
Years ago we used to breed for
the sales but we’ve moved away
from that. It’s hard to pick what
the buyers want. And to breed
to the top stallions can be quite
prohibitive.”
Ward trains a team of six from
his West Melton base and has
trained 139 winners, winning
more than $1.4 million in stakes.
– Harness Racing Desk
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