Albazinga winning chance at New Year's Day races
The 13-member Colin's Crew Syndicate will be cheering on Albazinga in race seven, the Ricki Egerton Dagging/Grant Horrell Contracting Maiden at Riverton on New Year's Day.
Jamie Searle is a long-time Southland racing writer. For more of his work head to the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page.
A group of friends who went to Central Southland College in the 1990s could be winning owners at the Riverton races on Monday, New Year's Day.
The 13-member Colin's Crew Syndicate will be cheering on Albazinga in race seven, the Ricki Egerton Dagging/Grant Horrell Contracting Maiden.
Syndicate manager John Langford, of Winton, thought four or five of the owners could be oncourse, with the others watching television coverage.
"I might be in the Frankton Arm Tavern watching the races [on TV]," said Langford, who is holidaying with family in Arrowtown.
Occupations of some of the syndicate members are farmers, truck drivers, builders, mechanics and small business owners.Â
Albazinga is raced on lease by the syndicate and trained at Winton by Sophie Price. The galloper's half-brother, Silent Battler won six races, including the Winton Cup, from Price's stable.
Five-year-old Albazinga is ready to win.
She has raced three times since arriving from the Waikato, kicking off with a second at Wingatui (November 7). However, since then bad luck in the running in two starts at Ascot Park has resulted in her finishing ninth (December 16) and second (November 22).
The Riverton track's 400m home straight should be to Albazinga's liking, as to the race distance of 1600m. Lee Callaway is booked to ride her.
The syndicate and Price had considerable success with Motorboat Mike from 2011 to 2018. The Invercargill, Gore and Wyndham Cups were among the seven races he won.
Other good bets at Riverton on Monday are Imabuster (race one), The Princie One (race three), Henry Hubber (race four) and Our Flash Harry (race five).
After the Riverton meeting, the next race day for the thoroughbred code in Southland is at Gore on January 20. It features the $80,000 Gore Guineas.