By Mac Henry
There’ll be a new training partnership at Addington on Friday night and Tony Barron is still nervous talking about it.
Everyone who sells horses tells you they’re not sold until the money’s in the bank. The Makarewa property which has been Barron’s home and business for a number of years was sold recently and he is applying the same maxim.
“It was on the market for about nine months, it’s all signed up but settlement is not till the 12th of August, I don’t want to jinx it,” he said
However, plans were already in place for Barron to join his brother Ken in partnership from the start of the season and that won’t be put on hold.
“We’ll have two or three in on Friday, about 50 in work,” he said. “If the sale goes through we’ll be up on the 12th.”
Barron said he will be taking 12 race horses and a number of mares and foals with him. In fact, two of the racehorses, Mighty Flying Deal and Gotta Del are already there having raced in last week’s Macca Lodge Trained South Of The Waitaki Final. Mighty Flying Deal was driven by Ken to finish second. He is raced by the MCC (Makarewa Country Club) Syndicate and Barron said their has been no discussion on the three year old’s future, such as if or when he returns south.
“Some of my existing owners preferred their horses to stay in Southland so they can go and watch them,” he said.
Barron’s best winner in the 2015-16 season was the trotter Queen Kenny, a nominee for five year old or older trotter of the year at last night’s awards. Among her best efforts were a win the group three Greenlane Cup at Alexandra Park and third in the group one Rowe Cup at the same venue.
“She’s still turned out in Auckland and will be served in the spring,” said Barron, “she’ll be jogged up to keep all options open.”
The departure of Barron will not only leave a gap in the southern training ranks but also training facilities. He said the buyers have no plans to use the property for horses.
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