Photo: Trish Dunell
Pukekohe trainer James Stormont has developed a good record with Brian and Rosemary Timms’ “Luck” breed and he is hoping it will continue at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday when Kelvinz Luck debuts in the Happy Birthday Brax Handicap Trot (2200m).
The three-year-old son of Peak will be looking to add to his dam Howz Lucky’s impressive strike-rate, with Kelvinz Luck becoming her 10th offspring to have made it to the races.
He has a fair way to go to reach the lofty heights of some of his siblings, which include Group One performer Madisonz Luck, Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly of her year Di’z Luck, and Rosemaryz Luck, who is the dam of Gr.1 Victoria Trotting Derby (2690m) winner Majestuoso.
While Stormont is looking forward to Kelvinz Luck’s first raceday outing he is holding reserved expectations ahead of Thursday’s assignment.
“He has got quite a bit to learn, but we have got to start somewhere. We thought Cambridge would be a bit easier than Auckland,” he said.
“He finished second in his workout last week. The week before that he ran fourth. As long as he steps away well I will be happy, that is the main learning curve for him.
“I haven’t done too much speed work with him. I am trying to educate him before I get the speed work into him.”
Stormont is also looking forward to the return of his full-sister Peakz Luck in the coming months. She hasn’t been sighted on raceday since her fourth-placing in the Gr.3 Northern Trotting Oaks (2200m) last year.
“She came up really well and ran second to Bolt For Brilliance at the workouts in December,” he said.
“But she burst out a bad abscess in her foot, so she had a month off to let that heal and she has just started back jogging now.
“We haven’t got anything in-mind with her at this stage as every time we eye something up it turns to custard, so we are just playing it by ear with her.”
Stormont has also trained Kelvinz Luck’s half-siblings Primz Luck to four wins from seven starts, and Tuiz Luck to two wins before her sale to America.
“It all started off with Primz Luck, I leased him off the Timms’,” he said.
“We have had a bit of luck and have taken our time with them. It’s been a bit unlucky with Tuiz Luck, we sold her to America and she ended up having to be put down over there, so we didn’t see the best of her.”
Meanwhile, Stormont is also looking forward to lining up three other runners at Cambridge’s meeting.
Sunny Pegasus will be vying to make it back-to-back wins in the Dual Code Racing April 9th Handicap Trot (2700m), while Clifton Flutter will contest the Black Dog Furniture Mobile Pace (2200m), and We Have A Mach Two will have her second start in The Clubhouse Sports Bar Mobile Pace (2200m).
“I was really happy with We Have A Mach Two’s debut (unplaced over 2200m at Cambridge), she learnt a lot,” Stormont said.
“They went 2.43 and she ran home well, so I was more than happy. It will be interesting to see her improvement from that run.
“Sunny Pegasus won well last start. Everything fell into place for him, so if we can do that again that would be great.
“I cut his work back last time, which seemed to benefit him, so I have done the same this time.
“I have also got Clifton Flutter in the Amateur race. He has drawn a bit wide (7), but if he can get the right run he can get some money as well.” – Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
