It may have only been an average maiden race but Steven Reid feels his 1000th career win could hardly have been more special.
The Pukekohe trainer reached the rare milestone at Alexandra Park on Friday night as he and training partner Simon McMullen produced a treble.
The third of those wins bought up the career 1000 and came with Samaritan, a cheapie purchase recording his first win.
“But to be honest I’m thrilled it is him because he is part-owned by my son Matty and its the first horse he has been in,” says Reid.
“So to get the 1000 with him and for it to be at Alexandra Park, our home track, is cool.”
While he has a moderate record, Reid now thinks Samaritan can win a few more as he burned his last 800m in 56.8 seconds, pouring the pressure on in a sub 28 second 400m sectional down the back straight.
“He has taken a while to workout and has a few tricks but he can run a bit and that would a good win.”
Even better with the stable’s second winner for the night Utmost Delight, who remained unbeaten winning the first northern heat of the Sires’ Stakes for fillies.
She worked very hard wide early but still kicked on too well for some handy fillies and rated 1:57.1 for the 1700m.
A daughter of Victor Supreme, she is owned by the King Midas of owners, Charles Roberts.
Reid and McMullen are now looking forward to Star Galleria heading to the Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington on Cup Day, via the trials there on Wednesday.
“Obviously the draw is going to be important but I think he is turning into a good horse,” says Reid.
“The other day we worked in at Pukekohe and he paced a 26.6 quarter and much of that was into the wind.
“The really good horses I have had wouldn’t have gone much quicker.” Those “really good horses” include of course Monkey King, who Reid trained for much of his career along with Baileys Dream.
“They were two very, very good horses and we all saw what Monkey did, some with me and some with Benny (Hill).
“But I’d like to think he would have gone on to do the same job if he had stayed here so he has obviously been one of the highlights for me.” But Reid’s finest moments in training have come with Gold Ace, who he part owned and who started to really shine just after Reid had come out of two high-powered working relationships — one with Robert Famularo and the other a training partnership with Graeme Rogerson.
“His Sires’ Stakes win came when I was out on my own and of course I owned part of him so it was really important.
“Then later on when he won the NZ Derby and outstayed Terror To Love, that was huge. That would be my favourite training success.” McMullen deserves plenty of the current day praise too, with Reid saying his passion helps drive the stable.
“But that can be hard too, for both of us.
“Last year we had a poor season and he was getting down about it because it loves it so much.
“We would go to the races, whether it was the gallops or trots and you have people asking why we aren’t training winners, what has gone wrong?
“And that is hard to cop but it probably bothers Simon more because he is so passionate.
“But he is a great training partner and we discuss things a lot.” The pair have 13 horses in work, with the smaller team having several who Reid has shares in.
“I don’t mind that. To be honest, in the past the only time I have made real money is when I have had shares in horses.
“But I don’t want a big team like I used to have, although that makes it hard because it reduces your chances of getting a good one.
“So I’d take a couple more if we get offered them.
Michael Guerin