Onyx Shard and Andre Poutama fly up the passing lane to nab Bev The Goat. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Ian brings in his mates on Onyx Shard - just don’t tell my friends I’ve got a wobbly!
By Barry Lichter • 14 April 2023
The secret’s out.
But Awapuni CEO Paul Humphries had such a blast watching Onyx Shard’s win at Cambridge tonight he doesn’t care any more.
When Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton invited his mate Humphries to take a share in the showy black pacer, the committed gallops owner said: “Just don’t tell my friends I’ve got a wobbly.”
It’s Humphries’ first foray into the dark side, and along with his best buddy Ian Harris they now share ownership of the Sweet Lou two-year-old.
With races on at his home course today, Humphries had to settle for watching the Cambridge race from the birdcage bar at Awapuni.
“He had a big crowd watching with him and they all backed her,” Middleton said.
Ian Middleton greets his pride and joy Onyx Shard, held by Deb bie Green who bought the filly for him.It was a similar story at Cambridge where Middleton was sitting with thoroughbred trainers Stephen Marsh, Robert Wellwood and staff from New Zealand Bloodstock, who all collected on the punt.
The win was especially enjoyable for Middleton too being his first with his own horse.
“Debbie Green bought her for me, along with a Fear The Dragon colt, named Obadiah Dragon, and the three of us race them both. I wouldn’t trust myself to buy one.
“I’ve had lots of fun with winners in Lincoln Farms partnerships, like American Dealer and Northview Hustler but this is the first one I’ve owned outright.”
Middleton paid tribute to Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street for getting him enthused with horses on his return from Canada.
Onyx Shard returns to scale after winning at her third start.And he’s now spread the love with two of his best mates.
“I’ve got a winning photo for you and I expect you to hang it front and centre with your galloping winners,” Middleton told an excited Humphries who called during the presentation ceremony.
“What more could you want? The filly was even driven by a boy from Palmy.”
In a perfect display, former Palmerston North reinsman Andre Poutama got the filly out fast from the pole, took a trail on leader Bev The Goat, and extended up the passing lane to score by a neck.
Trainer Ray Green said Onyx Shard, a two-year-old racing older horses, had a nice future, with her laid back temperament.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Angelic Copy
4.53pm
“She’s done everything right and trialled really nicely. I think she’s forward enough to give some cheek. She’s only small. You like to think when you get a good two-year-old like her that they’ll get stronger and transition into a nice three-year-old but she hasn’t grown an inch. But she tries hard and enjoys being out there.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.28pm
“I’m looking forward to seeing him. You never really know ’til you get to the races but he’s trialled well enough to start and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went a good race, despite the draw. He’s a nice sensible colt who’s done nothing wrong and he could develop into a really nice three-year-old.”
Race 6: Lincoln Wave
7.22pm
“He was starting to get into the habit of switching off so we trained him in blinds this week and he went pretty well. He was good from a standing start at the trials with shorteners in and Maurice was actually quite bullish about his standing start manners and thinks that, in time, he’ll end up being a quick beginner. If he steps well, and can land in the first one or two, he’ll definitely be hard to get round.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.22pm
“He’s not spectacular from a stand but he will get away, albeit sometimes a bit slowly. Lincoln Wave has more speed than him but if it comes down to a slugfest he’d be too strong as he’s rock hard fit.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.23pm
“The blinds go back on this week and if he steps and leads like he did three starts ago that would make him the one to beat. He showed with that win that he’s above average and will be a serious chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.23pm
“You could argue she’s a Cambridge horse but sometimes when you throw them in with the bear cats they lift their game and I thought she was really good here last week. Tony (Cameron) said she’d have finished a bit closer too if he hadn’t had to take hold of her close to home (when he ran out of room and hit a marker pole).”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.23pm
“We’ve got blinds on him this week. Harry said he lost concentration a couple of times last week, including at the top of the straight, and thought he’d be a bit more on to it with blinds on. I still thought his was the run of the race last time - none of the others could have done what he did - and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him score.”
