Patience isn’t a virtue you usually associate with a trainer who has just prepared a juvenile double on the same race night.
But that is exactly what Steve Telfer believes is the key to his two-year-old winners Parker and Dance Time, who ended the season on a high at Alexandra Park on friday night.
It was Telfer’s final night training in partnership with Chris Garlick, who leaves the stable to head a new property being set up by South Auckland’s Ross Johnson.
The astute training pair signed off in style after Parker wore down plunge filly Somethingaboutmary in the juvenile race while Dance Time was even more impressive, coming from last to beat older rivals in a quick last 800m.
Both horses look to have bright futures, with Dance Time clearly the more advanced while Parker looks a genuine staying prospect.
But Telfer is in no hurry to find out just how far they can go.
“We didn’t even consider the Breeders Crown for them,” said Telfer.
“They are not that advanced and we want to give them the time they need to mature.
“So, to be honest, we will probably let them both miss the Sires’ Stakes early in the season too.
“We will look after them and their first really big aim will be the Derby here next March.”
Both two-year-olds are bred to be smart — Dance Time is out of Time To Fly, who won the group one Breeders Stakes in 2008 after running fourth in the first ever Jewels race behind GTH Aveross.
That makes Dance Time a half brother to his talented stablemate Check In, both owned or part owned by Time To Fly’s owner Scott Plant as well as Stonewall Stud.
Parker is from a family Stonewall have had plenty of success with, being from eight-race winner Pepper Potts, whose dam Spicey won nine races for them as co-owners and nearly $200,000 in stakes.
"It has been a good young family for us but I think this guy (Parker) will be better with some time.”
Telfer said while he will be said to see Garlick move on it was the right decision for him.
“We have had a great association but Chris has a young family and his new role will give him more time to spend with them so we are happy for him.”
Meanwhile, No Doctor Needed, who is back from Australia and Bettor B Amazed, who ended up not being retired, will head to the workouts soon.
“No Doctor Needed will be nominated for the Cup (NZ) and race in a similar programme to last season.
“So we will get through Addington and then decide whether he stays here for Christmas racing or goes back to Sydney but we are happy with where he is at.
“And Bettor Be Amazed will also be aimed at the Cup meeting, going to the mares race on Show Day, maybe after the free-for-all on Cup Day.” Friday’s double saw the partnership close with 39 wins for the season, just two short of their personal best of 41 last year but with their best stakes haul of $485,731.
Garlick leaves having trained 190 winners with a good UDR of .2873 with Telfer.
Michael Guerin