Ideal Arden wins again in Nelson Cup

Reinsman Gavin Smith gained six wins at the two day Nelson meeting, including Sunday's Cup.

Ideal Arden, who won the Nelson Winter Cup for Smith and trainer Bruce Hutton, was the only horse to triumph on both days. Smith used the same tactics each time - leading out before taking a trail and sprinting hard in the straight.

Trainer Bruce Hutton, centre, is presented with the Nelson Winter Cup by John and Jo McKenzie at Richmond Park.

"I jumped him out and ran them along for the first 7 or 800 metres," Smith said of Sunday's race.

"He battled hard to the line . . . he always felt like he was going to get there." 

READ MORE: Ideal Arden in top form for Nelson Winter Cup

Hutton, of Christchurch, was not sure of plans for Ideal Arden but thought some of his contacts in the United States could be interested in buying him. The six-year-old is owned by the Forest Green Syndicate.

"None of them are here but they're over the moon [with the win]," Hutton said.

Smith's other winners on Sunday were It's How You Use It, Melanie Ohara and He's Like The Wind. The latter two are trained by him at Kaiapoi.

It's How You Use It gave Ashburton trainer Lawrence McCormick his first win since he and Chauntel Kentish dissolved their training partnership earlier this season. McCormick's winning colours were previously registered to his late aunt, Lorraine Grant, who trained and drove the 1995 New Zealand Cup starter Rainbow Patch. 

McCormick worked for Smith for two years before taking up training.

The addition of pacifiers and changing the bit led to Melanie Ohara winning.     

Hes Fast And Furious notched his maiden win for the Gill family, of Blenheim, on Sunday's programme.

Farm worker Mark Gill trains Hes Fast And Furious for his daughter, Jacqui, and granddaughter, Kendra, who is a junior driver. Jonny Cox picked up the drive on Hes Fast And Furious for the two day meeting when Kendra was unavailable for Friday's race (finished eighth).

"Kendra got a promotion in her job at Mainfreight and couldn't drive him," Mark Gill said.

Fellow Waterlea trainer Brent Weaver offered Hes Fast And Furious to the Gills as an unqualified three-year-old last season. He will now be prepared for the Blenheim meetings on June 24 and 26.

Mark Gill works a small team of horses, with Flight Dujour (four wins) and Midnight Eyre (three wins) being the best in his 21 years of training.

See original article: Ideal Arden wins again in Nelson Cup.