By Duane Ranger
If anyone deserved a Jewels Crown at Ashburton last Saturday then it’s Auckland Trotting Club steward, David Turner.
The 56-year-old commercial real estate agent has been ill of late, and he said Paramount King’s 2yo Ruby trot win was just the tonic he needed.
Turner has seldom missed a meeting at Alexandra Park in his 23 years as a race night steward at northern headquarters. However an illness which he didn’t want to elaborate on, has meant he can’t drive and has curtailed his progress in recent months.
“I’m getting on top of it and will beat it, but I have a lovely family and now Paramount King to look forward to. I’ve known for quite some time that this horse was going to be better than average.
“We have some great times ahead because both John and Josh (Dickie – trainers) believe the horse will make a very nice three and four-year-old. His little brother, Paramount Geegee won two Jewels crowns. The way he’s going I think he will win a Rowe Cup one day,” Turner said.
The Auckland resident said he couldn’t make it to the Ashburton because of his health, but admitted he didn’t think the horse would win.
“His two runs prior to his Jewels win were pretty ordinary and I thought he might have come to the end of a big first-up season.
“But what a drive! Josh putting two lengths on them at the top of the straight and that was the winning of the race. I was so happy. It was just what I needed. That was my first Jewels win,” Turner said.
Turner co-owns Paramount King with Ben and Karen Calder (Invercargill), Graham Neems (Hamilton), Philip Kelly (Pukekohe), Jenny Sutherland (Cambridge), Jonathan Hope (Cambridge) and the Loyal Owners Syndicate.
The Love You – Paramount Star gelding, who has now won four of his eight starts and $64,982, was bred by Studholme Bloodstock Limited (Christchurch) and Graham Gimblett ((Danievirke).
Potentially Turner thinks he will develop into the best standardbred he has owned in several decades.
“Armadale Lad was pretty smart in the 1980s. John trained him as well and he won three races before prematurely dying of cancer.
“Then there was Matai Mackenzie. I was part of the ATC Syndicate with him and he won a few Group races and more than $300,000,” Turner said.
“But this win is the most special. Not only because I’ve been a bit crook of late, but more because the horse is a quality trotter with a bright future,” he added.
Turner said contrary to reports Paramount King would not be heading to Australia for the Breeders Crown in August.
“John said he would put him out for three months and then bring him back for 3-year-old racing around Christmas time.
“I’m really excited about the horse, but we all know in this racing game not to look too far ahead, but by all accounts he has the breeding, gait, trainers, and driver to go on to big things. Here’s hoping,” Turner said.
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