South Canterbury trainer Len Stewart got his birthday wish when his stable star Take The Deel stormed to victory in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Waimate Cup (2200m) at Timaru on Sunday.
Stewart, who began his association with racing as a 14-year-old riding in saddle trots in the Waikato in the 1940s, will turn 89 on Tuesday and has found a new lease on life with the hardy five-year-old son of Dundeel.
The $1200 gavelhouse.com purchase took the step up to open company with aplomb as he produced a strong staying effort in the hands of Terry Moseley to make it three wins in his last four starts.
“I wasn’t really expecting it today as I had my concerns about the tricky track tripping him up,” Stewart said.
“In the end he was very strong at the finish.
“We knew he had the bloodlines, but it was always a matter of getting his legs to move fast enough.
“He can be pretty ignorant around home, but the penny seems to have dropped now and I’m hoping he can keep improving even more.” – NZ Racing Desk
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