Caley Myers has been a frequent visitor to Riccarton Park’s Grand National Festival of Racing, campaigning her father Kevin Myers’ team, but on Saturday it was her name in the result sheet as a winning trainer, courtesy of Duke Of Plumpton (NZ) (Bachelor Duke).
The veteran campaigner was previously trained by part-owners Kevin Myers and Patrick Payne on their respective sides of the Tasman, but he was entrusted to Caley’s care earlier this year to help bolster her growing racing team.
He was a welcome addition to Myers’ newly established Palmerston North stable, having already won seven races on the flat and one over hurdles, with close to $250,000 in earnings.
With an eye to a future over hurdles, the son of Bachelor Duke had two flat runs before placing in his first hurdle test for Myers at Te Rapa last month, and he was kept up to the mark with a flat run at Waverley before heading south to Riccarton.
Myers elected to bypass the opening day of the carnival with her charge, and she was hopeful of a bold showing in Saturday’s Speight’s Ultra On Tap 0-1 Win Hurdles (3100m).
With just four other rivals, jockey Corey Wiles kept Duke Of Plumpton handy throughout, sitting just off his brother Kylan on pacemaker Doctor Iris (NZ) (Mongolian Khan).
Duke of Plumpton jumped well and struck the lead turning for home. He continued to increase his advantage over his rivals, eventually running out a 14-length victor over Doctor Iris, with race favourite Hidalgo (NZ) (Pure Champion), the only other finisher, back in third.
Wiles was rapt with Duke Of Plumpton’s performance, and he believes the 10-year-old gelding has a great jumping future instore.
“It was a good race, Kylan set the tempo well and I sat behind and cruised behind him,” he said. “At about the 600 or 700m I thought I still had a lot of horse under me and he cruised to the front. He is an awesome horse.
“He has jumped enormous. We are really happy with the horse and Caley has done a great job.”
Myers was pleased to get her first win with Duke Of Plumpton and continue the family’s legacy, with the gelding carrying her father’s colours.
“It was a good effort,” she said. “He is rather consistent. If he likes you, he likes you, but if you don’t get along with him, he doesn’t help you very much.
“I have had a lot of help along the way from Mum and Dad and Jason and Luke (brothers) school the horse for me.”
Myers hasn’t set a plan in stone with Duke Of Plumpton, but said his next test will likely be much closer to home.
“We will just get home and go from there,” she said. “We might look to go to Hawera”