
Spice It Up (David Butcher) cruises to the line at Alexandra Park on Friday night. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Perseverance pays - Spice It Up’s Auckland triumph brings the house down in Napier
Napier couple Rod and Sue Fleming weren’t well enough to make it to Auckland to see Spice It Up win at Auckland on Friday night but they still celebrated what for so long seemed an unachievable dream.
“We were out of our trees, we couldn’t believe it,” Rod Fleming said of the filly’s decisive two and a quarter length romp.
“We popped some bubbles and sat up ’til god knows what time replaying the race, maybe seven times, which was like seven wins.”
The win was two years in the making since Lincoln Farms’ clients clambered to take up shares in the Captaintreacherous filly when she showed real early talent.
Trainer Ray Green persevered with Spice It Up.But with Spice It Up’s speed came a persistent tie-up condition which halted her in numerous preparations.
When it looked like she might never make it to the races, in line with John and Lynne Street’s unmatched policy, the partners were offered the chance to switch to other horses.
Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton recalls only the Flemings opted to stay in the filly.
“I tried to put them into anther horse and we gave them plenty of time to change their minds but they’d visited her at the stable and Sue was insistent they wanted to stay in her.”
Rod Fleming admits he started looking at other two-year-olds.
“But Sue said no, we like this horse, she’ll come right. “We liked the way Ray Green talked about her, and it’s not often that John keeps horses like that which told me he was interested in her too.
“They said we’ll just keep trying, put her in the paddock, and see what happens.”
Green’s more recent move to train her from the paddock and basically restrict her to eating grass, eventually paid dividends.
Before her debut third last month, all her previous owners were invited to come back into the ownership, but none took up the offer.
So it was with mixed feelings that everyone watched on Friday night as David Butcher secured a perfect trail before exploding past The Missing Sock up the passing lane.
“David didn’t touch her and away she went, bang,” Rod Fleming enthused.
Napier owners Rod and Sue Fleming stuck with the ship.“It’s a shame all the good two and three-year-old filly races are gone but hopefully we can win some more with her now.”
Fleming acknowledges they’ve been incredibly lucky in their time racing Lincoln Farms’ horses, having shares previously in King Of Swing, Vasari (23 wins) and Double Or Nothing (3 wins).
“We were very disappointed King Of Swing was sold but it was good money and he won seven races (and $236,000) plus the Breeders Crown in Australia (2017).
“We had a great time on that trip. John and Lynne are very gracious and they treat you very well.”
Fleming has known Street for more than 50 years, both grocers initially, but meeting through their shared enjoyment of indoor bowls.
“John and I played a lot of indoor bowls together and we won a NZ fours’ title in 1980.”
Fleming, 75, isn’t quite so agile these days and is in semi-retirement, getting round on crutches until he’s back in hospital in two weeks for a second try at a hip replacement.
“Sue has been crook for the last three or four months too but we’re keen to get up to Auckland again when we can.”
The couple are real identities in Napier where they have been in real estate for a combined 43 years.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”