Bruce and Colleen Negus, who operate a stable at Burnham (near Christchurch) had a day to remember at Waikouaiti on Sunday with four training wins on their former home track. Colleen made it a special day when she drove Em Ay to win the race for amateur drivers.
Colleen had good reason. She was the former Colleen O’Connell, who was raised at nearby Seacliff. She married trainer Bruce Negus 10 years ago and they were based at Waikouaiti until three years ago. She shares the ownership of Em Ay with Robyn Garrett (Bruce’s sister) and his mother, Heather Tangye.
The first to congratulate Colleen was her sister Mary – Ann Bishop after whom the horse is named.
The Negus stable had their other wins with Zimfandel, Sundons Flyer and Zulu Courage, possibly the smallest horse racing at an estimated 13.3 hands. The stable had six horses at the meeting.
Zulu Courage came along the inner in the hands of Jessica Young to prevail by half a head.
“Three mechanics from Burnham had never had a horse and leased a half share in him (Zulu Courage) three months ago,’’ said Bruce.
Zulu Courage is raced by Bruce and Colleen with Brenden Stevens, Hayden Annand and Vince Jackson. He is a 4-year-old by Courage Under Fire, the champion pacer trained by Negus. The raceway at Waikouaiti is named after Courage Under Fire, who was not big at 14.3 hands.
Bruce and John Gledhill race Sundons Flyer, who outfinished the well performed trotter Monty Python.
Zimfandel, a 3-year-old by Real Desire – Ruby Choozday and thus a brother to Reuben Brogden (17 wins in Australia and 1.50.6 in America) is raced by West Eyreton breeders Murray and Jo Clay. Jo, as Jo Higgins, won a race as the owner of the galloper Nancarrow, trained by Michael Pitman, at Washdyke in 1980. She also rode track work for the late Sydney trainer Tommy Smith.
The quartet of wins for Negus equalled his feat at Forbury Park in September, 2003 when he trained four in a row – Royal Rascal, Thornycroft, Some Courage and Guru. He then had Craig Parsons as a training partner.
One Yankee Ginga, a three quarter brother to The Fiery Ginga (28 wins) cleared maiden trotting ranks when he led over the last 1800m. He is a 3-year-old by CR Commando from Leithe Ellen, a half sister by Muscles Yankee to The Fiery Ginga. He was bred by Lex and Heather Williams, of Waimate. One Yankee Ginga was bought for $30,000 by Balcairn trainer Robbie Holmes at the 2015 premier yearling sale and he is raced by Lex Williams, Neil Carter, Mark Goodhew, Jeff Wilson, John Ashby and Grant Bancroft.
All Bling, who joined the Mosgiel stable of Darryn Simpson 10 days ago, cleared maiden ranks.
“She has worked at the beach a couple of times since I got her,’’ said Simpson, who had to scratch last start winner American Spirit from the Waikouaiti Cup after a recurrence of a knee problem. He trains All Bling for Kelly Edmonds and her son, Scot, of Motukarara.
Tayler Strong
