B Envious latest Baynes-Balle winner

By Michael Guerin

Breeder Kenny Baynes may not have got the result he wanted with a couple of yearlings two years ago but Pukekohe trainer Derek Balle doesn’t mind one bit.

Because the southern breeder now has two smart young pacers on his hands and both on them in the colours of Balle and his daughter Neita.

B Envious became the second Baynes bred and owned but Balle trained three-year-old winner in seven days when he was too good for smart maiden field at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

That came after stablemate/part-ownershipmate Bettor Be Special bolted in at Cambridge last Friday night, with Balle excited about having two promising three-year-olds in the team.

“It is nice to have good horses to take to the races who are going to be competitive,” says Balle.

The 62-year-old admits he has come close to semi retirement in recent years but with Neita establishing her career and her partner Zev Meredith working his horses from the barn, Derek’s plans might have to go on hold.

“Neita and Zev are both very passionate about it and I love being part of it.”

That has meant a little more so than usual recently as Neita is only just back driving fast work after the birth of her and Zev’s son Navy four months ago.

Their passion has been part of the tie-up with Baynes as the two youngsters have had horses for him in recent seasons and when Baynes took both B Envious and Bettor Be Special to the yearling sales two years ago and didn’t get the price he wanted, the North to South phone calls started.

“I told him I’d love to take a share in one and train it as long as I got to train the other one too,” says Balle.

“They are both really nice horses. B Envious might be the more natural but Bettor Be Special keeps stepping up, even though he doesn’t show you much at home. 

“He is a typical Bettor's Delight.”

The pair are part of “eight or 10” the stable have in work with retirement edging its way into the distance.

There was success for other “smaller” stables at Alexandra Park on Friday too when Matthew Collins got a popular win with Spirited Belle in the opening race while Karawau Lil led all the way in the lower grade trot for trainer Penny Fensom with husband Rhys driving.

There was plenty to like about the win of Bijou on debut, the two-year-old beating the older trotters in his maiden to continue trainer Tony Herlihy’s great 2026 with squaregaiters while Illicit Love reaffirmed he is an open class trotter in the making with his victory in a higher grade.

Later in the night American Me overcame a 30m handicap over 2200m to win again in what could be his last race in New Zealand with the lovable veteran under offer to North America.

It also brought up the 300th driving win in New Zealand for his new trainer Matty White.

“He has done a wonderful job and if he ends up being sold to Canada I will do a great job for them too I am sure,” said White.