It’s a family affair

Horses have kept the Alfeld family of Lincoln close and the win by Sans Repos (Art Major) at Ashburton on Sunday was a real family affair.

The six year old harness racing gelding is owned by her trainer Danni Alfeld, along with her parent Ricky and Janine Alfeld and was driven by Ricky. Janine and Ricky (Brandelle Holdings) also bred the gelding.

In Sunday’s race, Sans Repos began well and lead, before handing up to Always B Hayley. Inside the last 200 metres Ricky secured the inside run and Sans Repos went down to the line to win by a length from My Skatjie.

“It was exciting. We didn’t know that Dad was sitting on forty nine wins. We went out for dinner to celebrate, so that was nice.” Danni said.

The win was Ricky’s fiftieth in a career that spans over four decades. His first was Nomad, trained by Manu Taumanu at Addington in February 1984.

“Dad loves him (Sans Repos) to bits and that’s why he was in his colours.”

It was twenty six year old Danni’s seventh winner. Her first was Sans Le Sou the mother of Sans Repos, on the same track in July 2018.

“I do love it. The horses are something else and I’ve found a lot of great friends through it.”

These days Danni’s health sometimes prevents her from driving the horses, but between the three Alfeld’s the work gets done on their ten acre property at Lincoln.

Both Danni and Ricky are up early and when Ricky heads off to work Danni does the boxes before she heads off to her nannying job. Ricky does the feeding up at night while Janine also lends a helping hand.

“That’s what it’s all about. It’s not a money-making thing for us, it’s a hobby and we have the passion for it. I can jog them if I’m having a good day, otherwise Dad is in the cart. Mum gets in there on occasions when she has to.”

The family have three horses in work – San Repos, his sister Seafolly (American Ideal) and Erratic, a daughter and the last foal of their foundation mare Arma Xcellent.

Danni remembers going to Nevele R with her mother as a four year old and picking out Arma Xcellent. As a racehorse she won two of her twelve starts for Ricky, before heading to stud.

“Mum has named them. Sans Le Lou means pauper in French because Mum always says horses keep you poor, while San Repos means unrelenting, never give up.”

Danni’s grandparents on her mother’s side are Neville and Jenny Benny who ran Spring Park Stud at Springston. Neville also trained thirty winners, including Royal Count (10), Irton Prince (6) and Rotary Motor (5).

“They’re retired now. They did it for about thirty years.”

Ricky’s family has also a strong connection to the sport.

Alan Alfeld, Ricky’s father, was best friends with Denis Nyhan and Robin Butt and he helped out at their stables. So it’s no surprise that Ricky and Janine met at the Motukarara races.

Outside of their current team of three, the Alfelds have a two year old Always B Miki filly and a Sweet Lou colt both out of Sans Le Sou.

“We just like to keep the breed going. There’s something about having that connection with animals, especially when they’re bred here. The mare doesn’t go away. She has her foals here and the horses are here all the time. It’s nice to see them progress and you learn early about their quirks. Sans Le Sou is a friendly old mare, so we can get quite a lot done with her foals.”

And Danni thinks there are still a few more wins in Sans Repos.

“He’ll just keep plodding away. It’s good in the winter when they have the Sunday races at Addington. It’s only twenty minutes up the road.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink