By Duane Ranger
Cheree Wigg described her first training success at Alexandra Park last Friday night as the best feeling she has ever had in racing – even better than when she created a world first at Te Awamutu last December.
Wigg was having her first TAB drive that day and beat her sister Sheryl by a nose. In doing so the siblings became the first twins to quinella an amateur driving event.
They created history on the Waipa Grass behind the Frank Phelan trained Speak Up (Cheree) and the Tim Vince trained Celtic Warrior (Sheryl).
But it was Wigg’s (Cheree) black and burgundy colours that were to the fore for the first time on Friday, thanks to a perfectly-timed drive from Sailesh Abernethy behind the $22.10 outsider, Minstrel Boy in the feature pace – the $8,000 Hydroflow Grass Track Series Mobile for C3 to C6 pacers.
“This is my greatest moment with horses and I have been around horses since I was young child. I would never have ever thought I would train a winner. I still can’t believe it.
“It was massive, even better than driving my first winner at my first start. It was a real surreal moment and I will never forget it,” Wigg said.
It took the Kumeu trainer three starts to bag her first winner, but it was Minstrel Boy’s 77th start and sixth win. The 6-year-old Art Major gelding has also placed 14 times and won $38,820 in stakes.
Wigg said she was looking for an amateur horse to drive while her other horse in work – Hadrian was spelling.
“Tim Vince suggested three and I knew abbot Minstrel Boy and liked what he had done. He was with Brent Mangos, so I approached him and then after fast-working him I bought him,” Wigg said.
That purchase was made shortly after Minstrel Boy won a C2 and claiming pace at New Plymouth on April 7 this year.
“’Mango’ was real co-operative. That’s the great thing about harness racing. The people are so welcoming and friendly.
“If it wasn’t for people like Jay Abernethy, John Dunn and Mike Stephens (partner and former Northern Districts cricketer) I don’t think I would have been motivated enough to get my licence. They believed in me more than I did.
“I also owe a lot to Adrienne Matthews. She taught me the ropes at the start. I spent 18 months working voluntary for her a couple of days a week including race nights and trials,” Wigg said.
The 44-year-old also paid a tribute to Dunn for the way he went out of his stable went out of their way for her.
“I asked him if I could spend a day with him and just take in what they do. I really loved helping out in a big stable. I enjoyed every second of it and learnt a lot. You never stop learning. So many people have been so helpful,” Wigg said.
Wigg, who resides in Remuera, is a property commercial manager and works two horses out of Kumeu. She has also had four amateur drives for a win and a third.
The Tony Herlihy (MNZM) trained and driven favourite, Liberty Styx, finished a nose behind Minstrel Boy. If the 5-year-old mare had got up it would have meant an outright lead for Herlihy on both the Alexandra Park driving and training premierships.
Instead he shares the training premiership lead with brother-in-law Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen with 35 wins apiece. Herlihy has a 41-34 lead over Zac Butcher in the driving premiership.
With four meetings left in 2015-2016 ‘The Iceman’ is looking for his eighth consecutive driving premiership and fourth straight training title.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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