Court On The Edge just keeps earning

By Garrick Knight

So what if the phone hasn’t been ringing with potential buyers? Steve Telfer and his sister, Mandy Tidswell, couldn’t care less.

Because Court On The Edge, a winner at Alexandra Park on Friday night, has turned in to the best earner in their large stable.

His win in the $20,000 R57-67 mile took his earnings for the year over the $50,000 mark and secured ‘equine ATM’ status.

“Would you believe we’ve never had one call for him?” said Telfer.

“I suppose it’s because he has the spreaders on, but he doesn’t even really need them.

“We put them on for confidence on race night; most of the time at home he doesn’t even wear them.”

Court On The Edge came north to Stonewall Stud last Christmas after winning a maiden for Cran Dalgety.

“His owners, Brian and Lesley Court, sent him north.

“We often stay with them when we take horses down south and it’s usually Mandy that’s down there with our horses.

“So they offered Mandy a share in him and a deal was reached for him to race up here with us.”

Court On The Edge’s trademark is his blistering gate speed, something which has proved invaluable given the myriad of mile races being held in Auckland this year.

“We’ve been a bit lucky, I suppose,” said Telfer.

“When that gate leaves, you’re just a passenger. He drops his bum and wants to really run.

“With that much speed, you just go with him, because he will come back to and relax once he’s in front.”

That was exactly the case on Friday with driver Benjamin Butcher eventually taking a trail behind the heavily-backed Nanelle Franco.

He then surged Court On The Edge up the passing lane for a convincing 1.56.3 win.

“It was great to see that,” said Telfer.

“I actually think he’s better off a sit but he has been disappointing at times when driven in behind them

“At home he will always come off the back of a horse and run past it.”

With further mile nights programmed for September 27 and October 25, Court On The Edge has plenty more earning to do.

“He’s done a great job for us and I’m hoping that will continue on with all the mile racing they have here now.

Milestone win for Mangos

Brent Mangos recorded New Zealand driving win number 1500 when sneaking up the markers with Vespa to take out the night’s male maiden pace.

It was kind of fitting that the milestone came aboard a horse trained by his longtime friend Tim Vince.

“Thrilled to give Mango his 1500^th winner, but I can’t say I was very confident,” Vince said post-race.

“He’s been sick and needed a trial but there were none up here this week so we brought him to the races instead.

“I thought he was a run short.”

Accordingly, Mangos was more than content to take a trail behind second favourite Double Or Nothing and hope for the best up the passing lane.

The horse’s natural speed and a passing lane paved with gold saw him record an overdue maiden win.

“We’ve had a lot of issues with him,” said Vince.

“A terrible time with minor problems; he’s been sick a couple of times, a stone bruise, it’s been setback after setback.

“But he’s a nice little fella that would give you his heart.”

Solid Gold makes another statement

Solid Gold backed up a super resuming win with another dominant display in the night’s $25,000 feature pace.

In the hands of James Stormont, he zipped round to parked a lap out and out-muscled the leader, Bettor My Dreamz, down the straight.

For a while it looked like Blazen River would reel him in but he dug deep to get the chocolates.

“He’s always shown a lot but he’s really grown up this year,” said Stormont post-race.

“And I think in another year again he’ll be even stronger, so he’s got a bright future ahead.”

Next up is the Spring Cup in a fortnight, a standing start affair which does have co-trainers, Frank Cooney and Tate Hopkins, worried.

But Stormont saw something last week that gave him some confidence.

“I was really happy with how he stepped at the Pukekohe trials last week.

“So, he’s heading in the right direction.”

NZ record for Canterbury mare

Sunny Glenis set a new New Zealand record when taking out the R45-76 standing start mile trot.

Her time of 2.02.1 bettered the previous mark (2.03.4) set by Mortician on the same track nearly a year ago.

“A record’s a record and that will look nice on her page when she becomes a broodmare,” said driver Scott Phelan.

It was only Sunny Glenis’ second win in the north since joining Barry Purdon’s stable in May but, such is the earning potential with the good stakes at Alexandra Park, she has earned well over $40,000 in that time.