Todd Macfarlane won’t tell you he’s got a good eye for a racehorse. He’s too modest for that.
Instead he’ll say it was bad luck that ensured that he ended up with rising trotting star, Heavyweight Hero.
The 3-year-old Muscle Mass gelding has set two New Zealand records the last two Fridays at Alexandra Park.
Last week Heavyweight Hero broke You Rock’s December 2011 New Zealand record by a whopping 2.8 seconds from 20m behind. He trotted the 2700m in 3:27.2 after getting well back and then sitting parked out.
The week before he set a national record for 3-year-old trotters over the 2200m stand from his 10m handicap.
His time of 2:49.8 was 1.4 seconds quicker than Rock Tonight's New Zealand record, also set at Alexandra Park in March 2015.
“He did them both very easily to be honest,” said trainer/driver MacFarlane. “He is right up there with the best trotters I have driven. He just feels nice.”
The best trotter Macfarlane has reins is the former multiple Group One winning Special Force, who won 27 races and $624,823 between February 1997 and March 2005. He was also a former New Zealand record holder for his Pukekohe trainers Dave and Clare McGowan.
“I ended up getting Heavyweight Hero through the late Eric Inwood who had Tarn (three wins) and Mr Natural (two wins) with both Murray and then latterly me.
“He was from Christchurch and it was just bad luck that I ended up with Heavyweight Hero. When Eric passed away I knew his Estate were looking to move some stock on.
“I always followed what Murray and his team were up to. I worked for him when I was a kid. He’s a very good horseman and taught me quite bit. That’s how Heavyweight Hero ended up in my stable – I just liked him from day one.
“Then Aaron Lowe, who has had horses with my stable for many years got networking and a Syndicate of us now own him,” Pukekohe-based Macfarlane said.
Heavyweight Hero had five starts for Edmonds and Macfarlane was always watching his progress with interest.
“I just liked the look of him and the way he was coming home in his races down south. We bought him for a fair price back then, but after what he’s achieved now it is quite a cheap price looking back,” his Pukekohe trainer/driver said.
Heavyweight Hero has now had five starts for Macfarlane for three wins (two in NZ record time) and two seconds.
But Macfarlane, who is also the Chairman of the North Island Trainers and Drivers Association, was quick to point out he’d only beaten R70 opposition and there were many tough assignments ahead.
“I think given the chance there’s probably a few good ones tucked away and ready to make the step up as well – and perhaps if they competed in the races we have raced in they might have set national records too.
“But all of his racing from now will be age group racing. That’s when we will see where he stands,” Macfarlane said.
Heavyweight Hero will next race the Group One $80,000 New Zealand Trotting Derby at Addington Raceway on April 7 and then a couple of weeks after that will compete in the Group Two Sires Stakes Trotting Championship at Alexandra Park on April 21.
April 28 will then see Heavyweight hero take on the best 3-year-old trotters in the Group One Northern Trotting derby. Both are worth $80,000.
Macfarlane said he would then take on his Jewels opponents at Ashburton on June 3 and the Breeder’s Crown in Australia in August was also in the back of his mind.
“You have to remember he’s only won three races against moderate opposition at this stage, so I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. I know in racing that is a foolish thing to do,” Macfarlane said.
Heavyweight hero is currently ranked number one for the $100,000 3-year-old Harness Jewels ruby Final with earnings of $30,115. Fellow North Islander C K Spur ($27,327) is ranked second and South Islander Chevron Express third ($27,013.13).
“I got him after he ran the Sires Stakes Final and then second in the Jewels so he came to me with some solid form and good ground work done by Murray. He’s also one of those type of horses who eats everything up. I think he’s a happy fella and really enjoys racing.
“Now as he develops as a 3-year-old I can already see that he has the traits to make a very nice trotter one day. He has always had a beautiful constitution, good manners and a strong gait. He’s just getting stronger and stronger with each race.
“He did it quite easily the other night (March 9), and even though I’m very proud of him I’m not one to get too carried away too soon,” the ever humble Macfarlane said.
Heavyweight Hero is the fourth of six foals (and most successful) out of Canterbury breeder Gael Murray’s un-raced Sundon mare, Successor.
Duane Ranger
Heavyweight Hero winning at Auckland on the 10th March