By Duane RangerJust over five years ago Dean and Nicole Molander took a gamble and decided to relocate with their two children from Auckland to Sydney.
It was a risk which took a few seasons to come to fruition, but after a couple of moves within Australia the former Kiwi couple, who now have three children, will be attempting to nail their second Breeders Crown at Melton’s Tabcorp Park on Sunday.
The now Victorian-based duo, who train in Nicole’s name, will line up High Gait (5) in the first event for 3-year-old trotting fillies and then in race two Our Regal Love (9) will start the favourite in the 2-year-old fillies trotting final.
“High Gait should go close but is the second favourite behind the Paul Nairn trained Wilma’s Mate and that filly is very good. Our Regal Love is probably our best chance because she is the favourite after setting a track record at Maryborough last start (August 17). I think she could be a serious Oaks horse one day,” trainer Molander said.
The 38-year-old horsewoman won her only Breeder’s Crown title when the daughter of Armbro Invasion and La Coocaracha – Reina Danzante – won the 3-year-old fillies trotting Crown last year.
But despite having won several other Group 1 races since relocating in May 2011 the Molanders said they initially had to take a backward step in order to get where they are today.
“We were living in a nice house in Pukekohe with two young children when we decided to make the move into a tiny one-bedroom place in New South Wales. It was a scary yet exciting decision but it was hard making a living in Auckland and we needed to try something,” Molander said.
After relocating again from Menangle to Appin in May 2012, the Molanders then two years ago shifted to Riddells Creek in Victoria – 37km from Melton, and about half an hour from Melbourne Airport.
“We found that Victorian racing suits all kind of racing and we can race every kind of horse here. We are really enjoying it. We work about 15 all the time and have some really nice owners supporting us. We also have about 10 young ones coming through.
“In hindsight it was a move we are glad we made. We train both trotters and pacers and want people to know that we specialise in both gaits. I think people forget that Nicole trained Pure Power to run third in the Miracle Mile in 2013,” her husband said.
Molander was the first woman in New Zealand to drive a Group 1 winner (Secret Potion). In Australia she has reaped great success with the multiple Group winning trotter, Keystone Del, and of course High Gait who has won two Group 1 events this year – the Victoria Oaks and The Need For Speed Princess Final.
“High Gait was originally with Mark Purdon and we only got him because of Mark’s good word and the fact that Nicole had worked for him before. Mark and Natalie (Rasmussen) have been so supportive.
“High Gait is owned by one of the Breckon Farm Syndicates. Ken and Karen (Breckon) are wonderful people as are many of our owners. We wouldn’t be able to operate like we do if it wasn’t for owners like Richard & Pauline Matthews, Phil and Glenys Kennard, and Mark Hanover & Gordon Banks,” Molander (Dean) said.
“In fact we would like to thank everyone who has supported us, especially our full-time staffer Monique Bunett and Norma our baby-sitter,” he added.
“We have bought 40 acres here and this is home now, but sure we would like to campaign good horses back in New Zealand one day.
“In fact I’m sure Our Regal Love will take on the best fillies and mares there fairly soon. As for us returning, you can never say never, but for now this is where we have set up and where we want to be. We want to make a real go of it,” Molander said.
The Molanders’ three children Ella, Jake, and Conner are now aged eight, five, and two respectively.
Good friend Chris Alford will drive Molanders’ two trotters on Sunday at 3.26pm and 4.04pm (NZ time) respectively.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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