Barclay and Ellis go separate ways

It’s no April Fool’s joke, from today the Kirstin Barclay – Paul "Tank” Ellis partnership is no more.

The Southland-based team is going its separate ways though Barclay is keen to emphasise that there’s been “no fall out or anything like that”.

“We are still great mates.”

She says it’s a more of case Ellis switching gears and focusing on a small select team and developing young talent while “I like being busy and have a few goals I’d like to achieve. The time is right.”

Barclay will have a team of around 22 though star pacer U May Cullect has been injured again.

“He has gone sore and I’ve pulled him out of the Easter Cup,” says Barclay.

While she is hoping it’s minor “Carlos” as he’s known, has a history of tendon injuries and it’s too early to say if he’ll ever get back to the racetrack.

While the Barclay-Ellis partnership’s first win was with Honey Cullen at Forbury Park in August 2018 their latest, and what will be their last, was U May Cullect at Riverton on March 4. In winning his first eight starts U May Cullect turned into a cult hero and right now the seven-year-old’s career record stands at 9 wins from just 16 starts.

The stable’s other star has been Watch Me Now who gave them their first Group One success in the Breeders Stakes against Amazing Dream at Addington on February 12. At the time Barclay called it a career highlight and a dream come true.

Altogether they have had 85 wins from 694 starts. On her own Barclay had 50 wins from 2006-2018 while Ellis had 75 winners as a trainer on his own account from 1999 – 2018.

Of those future goals Barclay says she would really like to develop a “very nice two-year-old and develop some stock for sale.”

There are bills and a mortgage to service after all but before then there will be a time to reflect.

“Tank and I are going for a beer on Monday night to celebrate our success.”