From rugby fields to the race track for Ben From Accounts

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk

What's in a name? A pacer, who's fresh to the scene, is likely to get a laugh or two when he gets to the races.

Ben From Accounts (BFA) made his first public appearance at Ashburton earlier this month for trainer-driver Sam Thornley, winning a three-horse trial under the qualifying mark (3:10.0) in 3:09.00. He followed that up with a fourth at yesterday's trials at Rangiora. 

"He's exceeded our expectations to be honest - he's come a long way very quickly," says Michael Lawrence.  

Lawrence bred and owns the three-year-old Net Ten EOM - Tuapeka Toff gelding with his father Murray as well as his sister Barbara Lawrence and her partner Nigel Ritchie.

So who came up with the idea of calling him Ben From Accounts?

"I think it was me - we threw a number of ideas around but ended up agreeing on that," says Michael.  

It relates to the nickname given to former Otago and All Black star Ben Smith by the ACC (Alternative Commentary Collective) due to his high skill level and everyman persona.

"All the members involved are southern born and bred and have been long suffering fans of Otago sports teams," says Lawrence of the ownership group, "and we've been fans of this unassuming guy from Green Island and have followed his career closely."

"We also learnt that Ben used to ride motorbikes in one of our paddocks when he was a kid."

And the name has a second reference point as well.

"The sire is Net Ten EOM and that's an accounting term so we were looking to keep an accounting theme going there somehow," says Lawrence.

Ben From Accounts is Tuapeka Toff's third foal but the first to have any proper training.  

"My father Murray was involved with a couple of horses with Father Dan Cummings (Tuapeka Lodge) and about eight years ago they were looking to sell some mares and we purchased Tuapeka Toff."

The second colt also has a rugby-related name. He's Toffs Nugget, or "Nuggy" for short, and named after another southern legend in Aaron Smith.

"It is also a nod towards the gold mining history of the 'Tuapeka' district connection," says Lawrence.

Toffs Nugget is also with Thornley at his West Melton barn.

"We have the mare in foal again, this time to US Captain, and are very keen on a filly this time!

Murray was a hobby trainer, based initially at Forbury Park and then Waikouaiti Beach, from the early 1970s to 2017, with 14 wins, including 1996 Roxburgh Cup winner Rapa Boy (driven by Ricky May) and three-race winner Tuapeka's Idyll (1983-84).

"The one that my sister Barbara and I remember most was called New Averil, but we knew him as Fred.  He won six races before being sold to North America. Dad was also involved with Father Dan with a couple of successful fillies in Maureen's Dream (5 wins) and Marsa Star (4 wins)."

To use an accounting pun, now it's BFA's turn to "excel".

"Sam has been very positive about giving both Ben and Nugget a go and apart from them both flipping the jogging machine on day one it sounds like they've settled in really well," says Lawrence.

"They have both had very little handling prior to going up to Sam so we're appreciative that he's been willing to take them on and he's been very patient with them."  

So what does the real Ben Smith know about his namesake?

"We're working on that now," says Lawrence, " we didn't really want to get too far ahead of ourselves, just in case it turned out that he ran like a donkey."