Horse racing: Wallace stable looking strong for four

The races return to the Ruakaka Racecourse tomorrow after they were shifted from Dargaville.Photo/Michael Cunningham

ONE fit horse in the stable and it is often said you have a stable of fit horses.

South Auckland trainer Bruce Wallace can expand the adage to his staff.

Former apprentice and stable rider and now stable foreman, Allan Peard will saddle four horses for the boss at the Ruakaka race meeting and he can say he is nearly as fit as them.

Reason being, Peard will swap safety boots for running shoes on Sunday when he takes part in Auckland's Celebrity Queen Street Golden Mile.

Peard, who spends any free time he has on the golf course, has had to organise his spare hours with running around the training track.

"When I took up the challenge I thought it would be a breeze running down Queen St in the city but I was advised the course starts with an uphill climb.

"I've looked at who some of my rivals are and have had a few side bets so I don't want to finish last."

The Wallace stable is enjoying its most successful season for winners trained and have already notched up 23 since August 1.

Peard is confident they can add to the tally at Ruakaka.

"All four of our horses are winning chances," he said.

Lonely Boy starts in the rating 65, 2100m and Peard said the son of Zabeel is ready for the step up to a middle-distance.

"He's had two runs since a break and didn't have much luck last time over 1600 metres," Peard said.

"He lost his position after the first 100m and got further back than we wanted and was then forced over extra ground on the home turn."

Peard said forget Elusive Unicorn's last race when she was held up twice in the home straight for a clear run.

"She'll start in the rating 65, 1200m which will suit her.

"Last time at Pukekohe, she was held up at the top of the straight when full of running and the gaps closed again half-way down the straight, she still had plenty in reserve at the finish and pulled up as if she hadn't had a race."

Promising 3-year-old Justnametheprice gets his chance to win his first race in the maiden 2100m.

"He's put in two solid races recently and is the form horse of this race," Peard said. "He has finished third at his last two starts in Saturday company and this field is a lot weaker than he has encountered.

"The step up to 2100m will suit him too."

The other runner from the Wallace stable is Street Wars who will start in the maiden 1200m.

He finished second at Ruakaka on January 3 behind El Primo and has been freshened since his last run at Te Rapa on February 1. "He went OK at his next start after Ruakaka at Matamata but the track was too hard at Te Rapa, plus the fact it was a strong maiden field," Peard said.

He said four winners from four starters would be a great start to the weekend and hoped it continued through to Sunday.

Peard's race rivals on Sunday are: Peter Williams, TVNZ; Melissa Ingram, swimming: Gary Kemble, rugby league; Wayne Walker, councillor; Marcus and Simon Child, hockey; Kushla Glauser, hockey; Peter McGlashan, cricket; Grant Robinson, cricket; Jono Hickey, cricket; Luke Witteveen, basketball; Theo Quax, runner; Simon Andrews, hockey; Annabel Anderson, paddleboarding; Tamati Clarke, cricket; Hugo Inglis, hockey; Darryn Hopewell, rugby league (referee).