NZ HARNESS NEWS
Nearly 12 years after having a Group 1 winner named after him, Richard Smith tasted success as an owner for the first time at Ascot Park on Monday.
Smith co-owns Springbank Ella, an eight-year-old full sister to Springbank Richard, who won the maiden trot in the hands of Charlotte Purvis.
Richard is the son of Northern Southland farmers Alistair and Denise Smith, who bred and raced Springbank Richard, a winner of 17 in New Zealand including a Jewels and a Dominion, and three in Australia.
Although not having a share, Richard said he travelled a bit to watch the horse race and fondly remembers the trip to Maryborough where Springbank Richard won the Victoria Trotting Derby in 2007.
Springbank Ella is by Sundon from It’s A Whiz and named after one of Richard’s twin daughters.
Springbank Richard’s trainer Phil Williamson said he first got Springbank Ella as an unbroken yearling and she had two or three preparations and was well schooled but a bit weak.
“As a late two-year-old I recommended to Alistair that he give her a spell,” said Williamson.
“He put her in the paddock, occasionally told me he must get that mare back in but he had others and it never happened.”
A couple of years later, when Southland horseman Brian Ferns and Richard Smith both worked for the same organisation, Brian put in a tender of $1,500 for a service to Monkey Bones and won it.
He didn’t have a trotting mare so asked Richard if his father had one.
“I said you ‘can have her but I don’t want to see her back’,” Alistair Smith explained.
“I’d gathered up too many broodmares.”
In December 2014, Springbank Ella produced a son, Lets Go Fernco.
“He’s been handled but never put in a sulky, he’s a 17 hand three-year-old, so big I haven’t rushed him,” said Ferns.
“I had enough other mares so I didn’t get ‘Ella’ back in foal but she looked too nice not to be doing anything.
“I had to wait for Lets Go Fernco, so I asked Phil about her.”
After Phil’s positive comments, Brian put Springbank Ella back in the sulky and was impressed with how keen she was.
“Alistair had kind of given her to me so I asked Richard if he was interested in racing her, he formed a syndicate and they have taken 80 percent,” said Ferns.
Among those in the syndicate are Richard’s brother Andrew, of Wendon, and sister Bronwyn of Bangkok in Thailand.
Springbank Ella was their first winner also.
After a trial at Cromwell at the end of last year, the eight-year-old debuted on the same track a week later, the first of four starts so far this month for two fourths, a second and a win.
Purvis has handled her every time.
“I drive her all the time at home; she’s got lovely manners and is so honest, I’m so grateful to be allowed to stay on her on race day,” she said.
Williamson says Springbank Ella is an ideal horse for Charlotte starting off and is pleased with her results.
Later in the day, Charlotte picked up the junior driver’s race aboard Annie Fitz to give her five for the term.
“Charlotte looks after her at the stables and is doing a fantastic job,” said Ferns.
“Springbank Ella is a lovely mare, a clean gaited trotter and so well mannered.
“That should help her when she goes up in grade but we’ve got no high expectations, we’re just enjoying it.”
- NZ Harness News
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