By Duane Ranger
New Zealand Show jumping champion, 15-year-old Tyla Hackett, is now starting to make a name for herself in harness racing.
But the New Zealand Junior Rider-of-the-Year was always destined to be better than average with horses being the oldest daughter of Waiuku standardbred trainers Bernie Hackett and Michelle Wallis.
Last Friday night Hackett rode three-win trotter, Majestic Ali, to victory in the first Monte Saddle Trot at Alexandra Park.
It was an exhibition trot comprising six starters – half of them trained by Hackett and Wallis. Their daughter didn’t let them down cuddling the Majestic Son mare up to win easily by three lengths from Makarewa Jake (Riina Maattanen) and Cool Son (Tayla Wenn).
“Riina is very good at this. They do a lot of saddle trot racing in Europe and she said it was very popular over there. I’m really pleased that Mum and Dad are trying to get the sport off the ground here in Auckland. I really enjoy it because it’s a cross between riding and trotting.
“I especially love riding Majestic Ali. She’s definitely my favourite horse. I don’t like riding Makarewa Jake. He is a bumpy ride,” Hackett said.
Hackett’s and Maattanen have now won all four Monte trots held this Autumn nailing two apiece.
Wallis and Bernie Hackett trained the winner of the first Monte Saddle Trot at Franklin Raceway on April 29 with Makarewa Jake.
Pukekohe stablehand Maattanen rode the 7-year-old to a two-and-a-quarter length victory. They trotted the R40 and faster 2050m stand (left-handed) in 2:58 (mile rate 2:19.7) and home in 63.8 and 28.7.
A week later Saturday (May 13) on the same track the Wallis and Hackett trained three-win Majestic Son mare, Majestic Ali, won over the same distance in in 2:47 even (mile rate 2:11), but right-handed this time. Hackett did the riding.
Then on May 20 the Wallis and Hackett trained and Maattanen ridden Blood And Whisky won a R40 and faster saddle trot by three quarters of a length.
“Mum and Dad have done well in harness racing, but now it’s time for me to out-shine them,” Hackett joked. “I’m grateful for the opportunities they have given me and my sister Crystal (13).”
The Year 11 Waiuku College student said she had been riding since she was four. She said she wanted to further her career in saddle trots but her heart lay with show jumping.
“I’m doing okay in that sport and really want to go as far as I can. I also enjoy working the horses for my parents – both driving and riding, but for me show jumping is where my heart is.”
And her all-time favourite Wallis-Hackett trained horse?
“Delft of course. He was such a lovely horse. I grew up with him and will never forget him.”
Delft won 16 races ($360,545) in New Zealand, including the 2006 Inter Dominion trotter’s grand Final.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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