Trudy Keegan of Stratford is over the moon after her racehorse Galvanize romped into first place on its first start last month. It was a dream come true.
Trudy, who only received her owner/trainer licence last year, purchased the gelding two years ago. He was an unbroken yearling and she picked him up for $525 at the Cambridge Lodge Mixed Blood Sale in Wanganui.
"He was a real handful at first with an incredible buck. I needed help breaking him in," said Trudy.
She has been training the galloper for racing since Christmas, and on June 11 he was ranked as an outsider in the 1200m maiden race in New Plymouth.
He came in to win, paying $32.
"We were amazed. We didn't expect that from his first start," said Trudy at her East Rd stables.
Galvanize, called Opal round the stables, is now a three-year-old, and he was sired by Sakura Seeking.
He will have his second race today (July 2) at Hawera.
Trudy started riding when she was a six-year-old and has always been crazy about horses, competing in One Day Events & showjumping
After leaving school she did track work and broke in horses for 10 years before becoming a vet nurse for five years.
She and husband Vaughan lease a dairy farm at Toko and recently brought a run-off on East Road were the Horses are kept. They have converted old deer facilities into stables for Galvanize and the other horse Trudy is training at present.
Between family, dairy farming, drystock farming, and horse training there is never a dull moment for the Keegan family.
Her four-year-old daughter Izabelle hasn't followed Trudy's love of horses, at this stage,
"She's more into cars and motorbikes," said Trudy.
Trudy said the Stratford Racing Club has an 'awesome' facility and club members have been a great help.
