Kaleb Bublitz chalks up first training success

By Jonny Turner 

Southland was the scene for another career achievement by trainer-driver Kaleb Bublitz on Thursday.

Bublitz trained his first winner when The Merc strode to an overdue victory at Winton.

The trotter is owned by the northern-born horseman and his immediate family – father Andrew, mum Libby, and sister Jordyn.

The rest of the Bublitz family watched from Cambridge as The Merc broke through, and they were quick to send their congratulations south.

“I had a phone call from both the parents, Mum was crying, she's stoked and the old man's rapt,” Bublitz said, "everyone's stoked."

Making his mark in the South was a long way from Bublitz's mind as he dreamed of training and driving winners as a youngster in the North Island.

His results have come following a move south several seasons ago to Oamaru to work with New Zealand’s greatest trotting trainer, Phil Williamson.

“The South Island has been good to me, when I was growing up in Waikato you'd never really think I would train or drive my first winner all the way down here.”

Bublitz was full of praise for the opportunities and help he has been given by Williamson and wife Bev following his first win as a trainer.

“It's great to work for him and Bev, both have been so good to me.”

“You know, they treat me like one of their own they look after me.”

“Any time I need help, they’re more than happy to offer advice or just anything really.”

“I can’t thank them enough for the help they give me.”

The Merc has shown plenty of potential throughout his career, as seen in his Group 1 placing as a two-year-old.

Along the way, the horse’s temperament has taken plenty of managing, Bublitz said.

“He just took his time figuring it out because he's naturally quite a hot horse.”

“So, he always wants to stay moving and keep going.”

“He gets a wee bit toey, but today was probably just about the best he's been.”

“So he's starting to figure it out.”

Bublitz gave The Merc a soft trip three back on the markers before angling him into the clear and launching their winning run.

The victory was the reinsman’s sixth as a driver.