Fredastaire gets breakthrough victory at Ashburton

By Mike Love 

Waterlea trainer Allan Shutkowski inched ever close to 50 career wins when when Fredastaire was successful at Ashburton's Cup Week Showcase meeting on Thursday.

Handled superbly by driver Jim Curtin, the three year old Ultimate Machete gelding was able to secure an economical run in the Spraymarks Roadmarking and Traffic Management Mobile Pace. He was then presented at the top of the straight to chase down tearaway leader A Better Jackalack to win in a close finish. Fredastaire stopped the clock at 2:58 for the 2400m with closing sectionals of 57.8 and 28.0.

“We thought he’d go pretty good. He’s a genuine kind of horse,” said Shutkowski. 

“We raced him in the summer and autumn and he was still just a bit slabby, so he ended up getting three months off which was a blessing. This time in he's been going excellent. Everything we’ve done so far has been to his benefit.”

Shutkowski (pictured above, in blue) and team headed south a couple of days beforehand as he is not the best traveller. 

Fredastaire is bred and raced by Anthony “Tubby” Smith, along with Allan and his wife Petrina.

“Tubby has played around with horses all of his life. He bred him. He liked Ultimate Machete because the granddam (Maureens Dream) was by Lordship.”

“I’ll get no credit for the win. My wife Petrina has done all the work with him lately,” laughed Shutkowski. 

Fredastaire has now won one from 14 starts and placed six times, while trainer Shutkowski is one win away from 50 training successes. 

“We will aim to be at Westport over Christmas. He will go somewhere before then.”

Shutkowski works a team of five including Ha’penny.

“Ha’penny was going good at Kaikoura but couldn't sprint with them. She’s been having trouble with tying up. She’s actually quite a good horse.”

“We have a Sweet Lou out of C A Penny, and Tubby has a Sky Major half to Fredastaire which goes really nicely who are both two year olds.”