By Duane Ranger
Straight line training on Foxton Beach has worked wonders for Peter Scaife’s new stable star.
Scaife only got Vibhuti off Brent Mangos last month and admits the sand training has helped ease the pressure on the 5-year-old’s legs.
“Mango had a few minor problems with the horse’s legs – nothing serious but the change of scenery has certainly helped him out.
“I’ve spent a lot of time on him. I’ve lasered his legs and it has all seemed to work. He’s a lovely horse. The best in my stable,” Scaife said.
Junior driver Ben Butcher whipped Vibhuti around to the lead heading into the home-straight and from that point the race was second.
Butcher rated Vibhuti like a driver who had been around for decades. In the straight none of his nine opponents could get near him.
The American Ideal gelding notched up his fifth win in 18 starts by 1-1/2 lengths and three quarters of a length. Second favourite Art I Special (David Butcher) and Bankcard (Dexter Dunn) filled the minors.
Vibhuti was the $1.90 favourite and paced the 2500m mobile in 3:10.9 (mile rate 2:02.8) with final 800m and 400m sprints of 59.7 and 28.7.
He is owned by Tony Shaw, Hambletonian Limited, and R. I. J. Stewart. Hambletonian Limited did the breeding.
Scaife said he was rapt with the way his stable was humming along at present.
“I had five horses line up on Saturday and all five returned a cheque. I also had a second and a third from two starters on the first day.
“I’m delighted with that and am hopeful it will carry on here at our next meeting here on the 29th (October),” Scaife said.
However the 57-year-old Horowhenua horseman said Vibhuti would travel both north and south.
“I think I’ll line him up at Cambridge next Sunday because he will probably only cop a 20 metre handicap and if he wins he will be eligible for a $1,500 bonus. That would make a really nice winning stake.
“Then I might bring him back to our meeting here later in the month before taking him to Christchurch for some of the supporting races during Cup Week,” Scaife said.
Scaife has had a tremendous start to the season having trained four winners and seven place-getters from 14 starts. His UDR strike rate is a healthy 0.5000.
The best driver at the meeting was home-town junior Andre Poutama who nailed three winners.
The 23-year-old won behind the Stephen Doody (Palmerston North) trained duo of No Bacardi Damit and Islay in races one and five respectively; and the Peter Robertson (Templeton) trained Beacon Hill in race nine.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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