Group One winning trainer Stephen Farley rates Helensburgh Ham as the most promising horse he has trained for some time and plans to head north in the winter with the three year old.
Not to the Brisbane carnival but to Grafton, a carnival where Farley has enjoyed a lot of success over the years winning such races as the South Grafton cup, Mother’s Gift and Guineas.
Helensburgh Ham resumes in the HMA Materials Handling Class Two (1200m) at Wyong on Thursday after winning his maiden and a Class One in successive races on the Beaumont track at Newcastle in January.
“The Grafton Guineas is the race we plan to target providing he shows us he can get 1600 metres,” Farley said.
“I think he can but you never know until you try them.
“I want to have up to that distance by the time Grafton comes around.”
Helensburgh Ham won his two races at Newcastle over 1300 metres and the way he got to the line suggests 1600 metres will not be a problem.
“He spelled well and has come back a lot stronger and more mature,” Farley said.
“He is a nice horse and his work has been sharp.”
Claiming apprentice Andrew Adkins goes on to Helensburgh Ham, which has equal top weight of 59kgs.
Adkins is no stranger to the horse and rode him when he was narrowly beaten in a Wyong maiden last October.
Farley has a new addition to his stable in Star Postman (Grant Buckley) which resumes for the stable in the HMA Select Transmission and Motors Australia Class One (1350m).
He is the first horse Farley has trained for Slade Bloodstock.
“I met Rob (Slade) some years when I was in Melbourne with Sincero and I have had a chat with him whenever we run into one another at the sales,” Farley said.
“He rang me out of the blue earlier in the year and asked if I wanted to train the horse.
“Gerald Ryan had told him the horse was not up to city standard and might be better suited at the provincials and perhaps in the country.
“He is a lovely horse at home but gets fired up and often won’t settle in his races.
“I think he will get over ground but we have to teach him to settle first so I have taken all the gear off him and we will start from scratch again.”
– Racing NSW
