Winners at Oamaru and Winton for Negus

By Jonny Turner 

Bruce Negus’ excellent record with weanling purchases paved the way for a highly successful week in harness racing.

Negus enjoyed success as an owner when both Ridge and See No Evil won at Oamaru on Thursday for trainers Brent and Tim White and driver Sarah O’Reilly.

The Canterbury horseman was back in the winner’s circle as both an owner and trainer when Mouton Cadet scored in a heat of the World Driving Championship at Winton on Sunday.

Negus has racked up plenty of wins in recent seasons with horses he purchased as weanlings.

The trainer has his own winning formula when it comes to sourcing youngsters. 

“The only problem for most people is that it takes a bit longer with weanlings,” Negus said. 

“But they are only a fraction of the price of yearlings.”

“I found that I could buy better stock than I was breeding myself for the same cost or less.”

“Because they are so young, you don’t have a great line on whether they will be any good.”

“They haven’t developed structurally, and you can’t get a line on their behaviour as such.”

“But the advantage is you can educate them your way.”

Negus struck up a deal with Brent and Tim White, who co-own both of their Oamaru winners.

“Brent and Tim have said right the way through that they think these two will be alright one day.”

“They both won nicely, and it looks like that day might be coming.”

As $4000 and $5000 purchases respectively, Ridge and See No Evil may be considered expensive when compared to Mouton Cadet.

Negus bought the pacer online for just $700, and he’s gone on to win seven races and $85,000 for the trainer and his co-owners.

Negus’ wife Colleen has taken Mouton Cadet on a southern stint, stationed at her brother Denis O’Connell’s stable at Waikouaiti Beach.

“That was his third start in eight days down south, Colleen and Denis have been looking after him.

“He was going OK before he went down, but like a lot of horses, he has improved at the beach.”

Mouton Cadet was one of three winners for Dutch reinsman Jaap van Rijn in the four heats of the World Driving Championship.

“It has been amazing how the European drivers have taken to driving pacers throughout the series,” Negus said. 

“You can see how much they have improved from the first heats at Kaikoura.”

“It is quite incredible when you consider they don’t drive them at all at home.”

“Jaap drove brilliantly all day, and he gave our horse every chance.”

Negus will be out to keep up his winning form during New Zealand Cup Week. The trainer plans to start a team at Ashburton on Thursday.