Schweinsteiger scores first goal

Schweinsteiger looks to be a horse with a bit of speed and the way in which he finished off his race today (Saturday) at Gore the win in the Advance Agriculture Mobile Pace won’t be his last.

The three year old gelding is raced by the What Ever Syndicate and trainer Hamish Hunter – the same group that won twenty five races and $682,514 with Cup Class pacer Franco Ledger.

Schweinsteiger was purchased for $16,000 at the 2016 Sale of the Stars by the syndicate.

“He was the only Falcon Seelster at the sale that year and he was a second thought. He was a similar size to Franco Ledger – very small,” said syndicate member Tony O’Neil.

The What Ever Syndicate are mainly from Central Otago and are made up of Rugby fans. However Mike Cornelius is the odd one out.     

“He’s the only soccer fan in the syndicate which is a bit sad. He’s happy that the horse is named Schweinsteiger because he’s named after a famous German soccer player. His stable name is Mad Mike,” said another syndicate member Ken McConnell.

Tony O'Neil and his wife (left) with Ken McConnell and Schweinsteiger's  – Photo Bruce Stewart

Football player Bastian Schweinsteiger played for thirteen seasons for Bayem Munich, represented Germany between 2004 and 2016 and is the fourth most capped German football player of all time.

The syndicate was confident of a good showing today after a promising fourth at Winton last weekend.

“Hamish doesn’t give much away but we were happy with the way he came home last week,” said Tony.

The syndicate also race Broadway Banner and plan to have a get together next weekend at Invercargill. Their ‘frontman’ Brendon McIntyre was noticeably absent today.

“He’s playing rugby and trying to kill himself. This is far easier,” said McConnell.

O’Neil is also in the Gotashearasheep Syndicate that owned the third place getter Unloaded, trained by Peter Hunter.

Schweinsteiger was bred by Cavalla Bloodstock and Canterbury Race Caller Mark McNamara and is out of Miss Moonlite Shadow.

Miss Moonlite Shadow is by Christian Cullen out of Sirius Flight which is the dam of classy pacers Malak Uswaad (9 wins and 1-49.4 USA) and Timeless Perfection (6 wins).

Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing