Girls On Tour - "there were a lot of celebrations"

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Sometimes Angela Boyd can't believe what's happened with her Girls On Tour syndicate this year. 

"We have just been so lucky."  

The first horse she's ever been involved in syndicating just happens to be star 2YO Tour Party and right now she and the Girls On Tour Syndicate are "having a blast".

The syndicate is part of a huge ownership group that race "Kenny". Their share is 10 per cent.

On Friday night at Addington Tour Party made it six wins from eight starts for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety with his biggest win yet in the $200,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Final for the Colts and Geldings.

"There were a lot of celebrations," says Angela.

The scenes of jubilation as shown on Trackside on Friday night following the race was certainly one of the night's high points. 

"It was a great night, we went until about 1.30!"

The syndicate involves women aged from 18 into their 70s.

"Some didn't know each other beforehand but they certainly do now," she says.

"About 50 per cent of them had no idea about horses and had not ever been to the races before."

"Then came his first win, the second and on it went - it's been very cool."

"The Girls think this racing game is easy - I have told them it's not!"

So far Tour Party has earned just over $200,000 in stakes since his win on debut in just February this year.

Friday's win was worth $100,000 in stakes as well as a $50,000 bonus for being the first Next Gen horse home. The other $50,000 Next Gen winners were Suva Bay in the Fillies race, and Duke Of Bourbon in the Trot. 

For Boyd it's been quite the ride. There have been a couple of times when things haven't gone to plan including Tour Party's fifth two starts back.

"We just had to explain to some of them that that is racing," says Boyd, "and certainly Friday's win had a bit of relief as well as celebration."

Angela and her trainer husband Stephen are good friends with the Dalgetys, with Angela getting involved with Tour Party's ownership following the Dalgety's Open day at their Kentuckiana Lodge base. 

They had bought him for $150,000 at the yearling sales. 

Angela secured a 10 per cent share and then went onto social media to gauge interest in getting other people involved.   

"I thought if I got 10 people I'd be rapt."

She ended up with 27 coming from as far afield as Australia, Southland and Wellington.

"Some of the newbies had no idea!" 

For Boyd getting involved in syndication had "its challenges" but is now much more manageable.

All members pay $20 a week to keep the account ticking over and with the percentages from Tour Party's winnings the syndication is in good shape financially, with members due to get a pay-out in the next few weeks.

In fact things are going so well that Boyd and "the Girls" have bought into another  horse - an Orlando Vici trotter named The Candy Man after the late Greg Sugars.

He was purchased by the Dalgetys for $50,000 at this year's National Yearling Sales at Karaka.

Boyd hopes they will continue to get involved in a new horse every year.

"We thought getting a trotter would be fun and it is also means in the future if Tour Party is not racing at a particular time then another of the syndicate's horses could well be." 

As for their gun 2YO the "Party" is far from over.

He'll head to Ashburton for a Sires' Stakes Heat as part of their big Labour Monday meeting on October 26 ahead of the $200,000 Final on Go Media New Zealand Trotting Cup day on Tuesday, November 10.

It's all shaping up to be a huge finish to an already stellar year - may the good times roll.