By Duane Ranger
Margaret Lloyd doesn’t own any racehorses any more but that didn’t stop her from getting in her car and travelling the 25km to Alexandra Park last Friday night to watch two horses bred by her late husband Bruce
Lloyd toyed with the idea of staying at home but couldn’t resist heading down the motorway to see siblings, I’m Just Awesome and More Shades Of Gold race.
“What a night! I’m sure Bruce was looking down from heaven with a huge smile on his face. To win a race is a bonus but to breed the quinella, well that’s something special.
“I was almost doing handstands. I saw Michael (Guerin) on track. He was delighted for me as well. He paid $20,000 for a yearling colt out of the mare at this year’s Yearling sales at Karaka. That horse’s name is Kratos and he will be trained by the Dickies (John & Josh) at Clevedon,” Lloyd said.
The dam that she was referring to was her late husband’s ‘eftpos’ broodmare, Hanover The Gold (Evander’s Gold – Chiola’s Choice).
Her 3-year-old Pegasus Spur filly named I’m Just Awesome beat her 2-year-old Majestic Son brother called More Shades Of Gold by two-and-three-quarter lengths in the third race at Alexandra Park last Friday night.
I’m Just Awesome and trainer James Stormont won the $10,000 Dunstan Horse Feeds Up To R56 Trot in 2:49.4. She paced a 2:03.9 mile rate for the 2200m mobile and came home in 59.5 and 30 even.
She was the $5 third favourite. Her stablemate and driver Todd Mitchell were the favourite.
“It doesn’t get any better than this. Yahoo I got the quinella ($6.40). I don’t have any shares in horses any more now that Bruce has died, but I still love to follow the horses that he bred. James even let me go into the winner’s room after the race and collect the trophies for him. I was so happy for him and Bruce,” Lloyd said.
Mr Lloyd passed away in the North Shore Hospital on May 9 last year – just 20 days short of his 80th birthday.
Hanover The Gold won five races and has left nine foals and is currently in foal again to Majestic Son.
“Bruce always said that she was his ATM machine. He loved her. She raced 56 times and also placed on 23 occasions. She has been very good to us both on and off the track,” Lloyd said.
Lloyd, who works in the hospitality and catering trade, also oversees examinations. These can range from business exams to University and school exams like NCEA.
But like her late husband she has a huge passion for harness racing.
She said the ‘More Shades Of Gold’ connection went back to the 1988 Chiola Hanover – Game Mist mare Chiola’s Choice – the grand dam of More Shades of Gold.
“Bruce bought Chiola’s Choice off her breeder – National Bloodstock with his late Uncle, George Abbott. George saw the fun that Bruce was having and wanted to get involved.
“That mare left just two foals – a (1997) Evander’s Gold filly named Hanover The Gold and a (1999) Simon Roydon colt called I’m A Nauti Boy. I loved them both, especially I’m A Nauti Boy. He won seven races and was a real character. He used to love my cuddles,” Lloyd said.
Lloyd said she still lived on the family farm at Kumeu – a five acre block formerly owned by Tommy Knowles.
“We love it here. We have a great set-up with stables. In fact we had 12 minis (horses) staying with us recently. Megan is into the miniatures. We both love horses so much.
“Bruce’s memory lives on through them,” she said.
For the record: When Lloyd didn’t get the name – “It’s All About Me’ approved by HRNZ, she opted for ‘I’m Just Awesome.
That bay filly has now won one of her five starts and placed in two others for owner/trainer/driver, Stormont.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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