Big weekend ahead with wedding bells, racing farewell instore

Barry Leith is one of 20 in the Carriers Arms Racing Syndicate that raced Kilowatt from the Riverton stable of Kelvin and Aimee Tyler.

Sally Beattie and Barry Leith in Queenstown today (Sunday).

• Jamie Searle is a long-time Southland racing writer. For more of his work head to the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page.

Next weekend will be a big one for Barry Leith - he's getting married and his horse Kilowatt is racing for the last time.  

Leith and Sally Beattie, of Riverton, are to marry in Invercargill on Saturday and will continue celebrations with family and friends at a function in the city on Sunday. 

Kilowatt will be racing at Wingatui when the function is on and Leith hoped television coverage of the race can be arranged on a monitor or large screen at the venue. Otherwise, mobile phones will be used to watch it.

Leith is one of 20 in the Carriers Arms Racing Syndicate that raced Kilowatt from the Riverton stable of Kelvin and Aimee Tyler. 

"He's been a great syndicate horse," Leith said of Kilowatt.

"Such a lovely horse. He always tries ... you've always got a chance [of winning]."

Kilowatt, middle, tries to take the lead off Asathought near the finish of the Riverton Cup in April. Asathought held on to win by half a length, with Kilowatt finishing second. Photo: JAMIE SEARLE

His competitiveness was clearly seen when second in the Riverton Cup in April.

"He tried his wee heart out, we thought he was going to win a hundred to go," Leith said.

The Riverton-based syndicate has been operating for at least 15 years and during that time 15 to 20 horses have been raced by it.

Kilowatt, who is a 9-year-old with 10 wins, is by far the syndicate's best.

"Not many can win 10 races. We'll never fluke another horse like him again," Leith said.

As Kilowatt prepares for his last race before retirement, his record also includes six seconds,17 thirds and $268,812 from 73 starts. On 51 occasions he has finished in the first five. 

Kilowatt has competed in 31 cup races, winning six - Dunedin Gold Cup, Wyndham Cup (twice), Tapanui Cup, Gore Cup and Southland Racing Club's Summer Cup.

Jockeys to win on him are: Brandon May (2022 Dunedin Gold Cup), Savish Khetoo (2021 Wyndham Cup), Kossi Asano (2021 Gore Cup and 2019 Tapanui Cup), Brett Murray (Riverton and Ascot Park in 2018), Kavish Chowdhoory (2019 Wyndham Cup and 2019 SRC Summer Cup), Gee Saejorhor (Ascot Park, 2019) and Kylie Williams (Ascot Park, 2017). 

Kilowatt and rider Savish Khetoo parading before the Wairio Cup at Ascot Park in Invercargill on May 14. Photo: JAMIE SEARLE.