Racing: Somervell revelling in small stable's success

Lee Somervell (left) receives his trophy from IAH Livamol Tauranga representative Howard Morrison.

In the boutique stable of Cambridge trainer Lee Somervell lies enormity attributed to strength.

"It's huge," a beaming Somervell said of Addictive Habit and Sam Spratt's group one Livamol Classic victory on Saturday, "because we only have 15 horses".

Consequently he proclaimed his "team of happy horses" oozed quality under that philosophy of existence.

"I was saying to myself the other day we only have 15 at work but we couldn't say any of them were average.

"In their respective categories they all have ability and the best horse stands really tall and he has a wonderful nature and heaps of ability."

That Somervell-trained Celebrity Miss, with jockey Trudy Thornton, came in third only further reinforced his belief that his staff did a sterling job.

He harboured no favouritism towards Addictive Habit or Celebrity Miss on Saturday "because they are all our friends and we go on their body language".

The postponement of the Windsor Park Plate a fortnight ago didn't upset the Graham and Isabell Roddick-bred gelding because he had run well at Te Aroha two Fridays ago after a good season in Australia.

"He'll go back to defend his title at the Coupland's [Bakeries] Mile in Riccarton with Sam [Spratt] on board in November."

"I have known Isabell for almost 50 years so it's great how it's paying off."

Somervell often stayed at Isabell's mother's home when he used to bring yearlings down for the Trentham sales. "Isabell's been really sick this week so it'll be a great tonic for her," he said.