Local junior driver Kieran McNaught won his first race on the Ross Wilson trained El Dinero at Wyndham earlier this month.
“It took over 12 months to get but it was only fifty odd drives. In the greater scheme of things it didn’t take that long but timewise it feels like it’s taken forever. I was very relieved to get the job done,” he said.
McNaught has a strong pedigree when it comes to Standardbreds. His Great Grandfather is the late Davey Kerr, his grandfather is Russell Kerr and Uncle Maurice Kerr – all successful trainers and drivers in their day.
“When I was a kid I’d be out there during the holidays mucking around at Maurice’s where it all kicked off,” he said.
Russell drove thirty winners over 35 seasons of driving. His biggest winner was Rapture in the 1987 Southland Oaks Finals – a Group Three event. It beat favourite Girl George by a long neck and paid $40.80 to win. After the win it was sold to Kenwood Stud.
Russell’s first winner was Benjarbee trained by his father at Wyndham in March 1976.
Kevin, Kieran’s father was chairman of Southern Harness for the first years of its inception and was recently appointed to the board of Harness Racing New Zealand.
“Mum and Dad’s circle of friends were all into horse racing so as a wee fellow I was always dragged around the races and spending holidays at the stables, there was always some sort of involvement.”
Into his second year of driving as a junior Kieran says he’s still got a few years driving as a junior ahead of him.
“That’s providing I don’t drive the 100 winners limit but I think we can be pretty safe on that one.”
And he says it’s been a steep learning curve.
“Probably the biggest thing I’ve realised is that you’ve got to be a bit more aggressive. The way racing is now you really do have to be handy before they get trucking. So it’s just been learning how to be aggressive without being gungho. You don’t want to go gangbusters and run your horse out of petrol.”
During University holidays he worked for Clark and Tony Barron at their Makarewa stables as well as other well known trainers.
“When I was away at Uni I worked for Nigel McGrath a couple of days during the week and at the weekends or when I was light on classes. I spent about four years there.”
He also worked for Brent Shirley and Alan Paisley in the summer holidays. “There was no shortage of work during the university holidays.”
He graduated with a Resource Management Degree and now works as a Resource Management Planner for Invercargill firm Bonisch Consultants.
“I left school and went away to Canterbury University thinking that if you get a degree they can’t take it off you. I had to get into that professional environment straight away. Bonisch have come on board. They sponsor me and give me plenty of flexibility in my work hours so I can come to the races. They understand that, which is really good.”
McNaught says Harness Racing for him is generally only at the weekends.
“If I did get involved a bit more it would be a bit of a juggling act because we are reasonably busy at work. The driving came about by driving track work and at the workouts. There was a shortage of junior drivers down here so I decided to have a crack. Everyone has been very helpful wherever I’ve been and there’s always been plenty of advice and no shortage of people to talk to.”
Under a mentoring scheme set up by HRNZ McNaught gets one on one advice from local driver Andrew Armour.
“It’s always good to sit down and watch replays and discuss things with him. He’s always got plenty of helpful advice.”
One person he’d like to thank is Gore trainer Ross Wilson.
“He’s been monumental for not only me but other junior drivers. He’s been big on putting juniors on and sticking with them and giving them a chance. My involvement with him came out of the blue really by driving at the workouts. He gave me a crack on a couple of his better ones. I can’t thank him enough to be fair.”
Wilson has been instrumental in providing junior reinsmen and women with opportunities over the thirty eight years he’s held a trainers license.
Of the 103 winners he’s trained, fifty seven have been driven by junior drivers. Robin Swain was the first junior to drive a winner for Wilson. As a junior driver for Wilson Craig Ferguson was his most successful with twenty winners.
Kieran McNaught also enjoyed his time as a cadet and was named 2017 HRNZ Cadet of the Year.
“It’s a great concept and it’s tested a whole range of skills. The scheme does a really good job of getting you together and teaching you things that you may not pick up in day to day stable work. They may get glossed over slightly. The main aim now is to try and find winners and doing the best that I can. It’s hard when you’re not getting a full book (of drives) every week but that comes with the territory of being part time.”
For the time being Kieran McNaught is sticking to his planning job whilst driving race horses when he can.
“It’s a great hobby and it certainly keeps me out a trouble at the weekends. It’s really good fun and I’m keen to stick at in.”
Bruce Stewart