Redwood Mare Puts Trainer on the Board

Media Release - Monday August 7

Sarah Hurrell took out her trainer’s license to continue Half Of Nothing’s racing career, and the grey mare rewarded her efforts when recording her first training win at Hawera on Sunday.

Half Of Nothing winning at Hawera on Sunday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

“I was hopeful,” Hurrell said.

“Her first run back was okay and at Awapuni the track was way too heavy for her, so I decided to freshen her and head to Hawera. I was hopeful but I wasn’t expecting a win.

“The racing game is hard work, but I am stoked to get the win, I am really happy.”

A career with horses was always on the cards for Hurrell, who became hooked on racing after watching her mother ride track work in Christchurch as a child.

Hurrell followed the usual pathway with ponies and once old enough she followed her mother to the track and hasn’t looked back.

“I have been involved with horses since I could walk. My mum did a lot of track work, so I got the racing bug from her,” Hurrell said.

“I started with Paul Harris and then I went to Michael and Tasha Stokes and worked for them down in Christchurch.

“I moved up to Taupo eight years ago and then over to Taranaki where I now work for Gavin Sharrock.”

Domiciled in Stratford, Hurrell also rode work for local trainer Guy Smith where she became acquainted with Half Of Nothing.

The daughter of Redwood won two races before Smith decided to close his stable doors and Hurrell requested to take over the handling of the mare, with Smith remaining in the ownership.

Advertisement

“I have always had hopes for Half of Nothing and I wanted to keep racing her, so I decided to get my license and give it a go,” Hurrell said.

It hasn’t been plain sailing for the pair, with Half Of Nothing finishing toward the rear of the field in all three of her previous starts for Hurrell.

However, the Taranaki horsewoman was not deterred and pressed on, and was rewarded for her perseverance on Saturday.

Hurrell is now dreaming of bigger things with her three-win mare and is eyeing the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera on October 7 with her charge.

“I have a race in-mind, the Breeders’ Stakes at Hawera, but I would like to win at least one more race with her to get a start,” she said.

Hurrell is enjoying working her team of one around her commitments as a mum and working for Sharrock.

“I am happy with the way things are. I have got two kids, so I don’t want to get a lot bigger,” she said.

“Gavin Sharrock has got a few horses to come back in and that keeps me busy, so one is enough at the moment.

“Soldier Boy is working really well and I rate Stipulator quite highly. I have high hopes for both of them.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Stakes Potential for New Hello Youmzain Winner
Late-season black type is on the radar for Platinum Diamond after an impressive upset victory in Saturday’s Full Circle Appearance Medicine 2YO (1200m) at Wanganui.
Three Straight Stakes Wins For Cool Aza Beel’s Cool Archie
With no two-year-old currently performing better in Queensland, the Chirs and Corey Munce trained Cool Archie continued his outstanding form, taking out the $1m Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), his third consecutive black type victory.
When in Doubt Back a Frankel!
The $200,000 Listed ATC Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m ) at Rosehill on Saturday attracted a competitive field of 14 stayers, the bulk of them imports and when you strike an open race like that it’s often wise to follow this piece of advice – when in doubt back a Frankel!
First Local Win As New Endeavour (IRE) Records Stakes Success
While it may have taken the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained New Endeavour (IRE) a while to record his first Australian success, connections were rewarded for their patience as the 5yo dominated under Tim Clark to win the Group 3 BRC Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.
Niance Overcomes Serious Injury to Claim Stakes Victory
Exciting New Zealand-bred mare Niance has bounced back from a serious injury and picked up right where she left off last spring, collecting her third consecutive black-type win in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Bright Future for El Roca 3YO
Owner-trainer-breeder Kylie Little believes she might have a promising stayer on her hands with Eagle Rock, who left maiden ranks with an emphatic performance in Saturday’s Matt Edwards-Lime Group Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa.
Ears Back Wins Listed Stakes at Wanganui
A two-race North Island campaign has ended on a career-defining high for Ears Back and her Rangiora trainer John Blackadder, who scored their first black-type win in Saturday’s Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 31
Here is the full list of 116 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hat-Trick for Trelawney Stud Blueblood Filly
Well-related Trelawney Stud filly Madiyya signed off her three-year-old season with a third straight win, this time over 1600m in the A$150,000 Rod Griffiths Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.
Kiwi Bred Campaldino Wins G3 for Darby
Promising New Zealand-bred stayer Campaldino passed his biggest test with flying colours at Eagle Farm on Saturday, stepping up to stakes company and adding the A$200,000 Gr.3 Living Turf Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) to his winning sequence.