Popular local "salutes" at Oamaru

By Jonny Turner 

It’s a case of have horse, will not travel for trainer Steve Allen who produced Salute to win at Oamaru on Thursday.

Allen’s consistent pacer broke through for an overdue victory with a strong front-running display for driver Matthew Williamson.

Allen trains a small team at Oamaru racecourse, though he has his hands on plenty more quality horses as the right-hand man to champion trotting trainer Phil Williamson.

Salute had only raced twice since July leading into his victory, with Allen having the pacer right on song to win despite his lack of racing.

But there has been good reason for it.

“With work and everything else there isn’t a lot of time, so I just prefer to race local.”

“He went well at the last Oamaru meeting, so we just waited for this one.”

“I actually don’t own a horse float, so if Matt can take me I will go up the road, otherwise I just stay home.”

Salute produced Allen’s seventh win as a trainer, with Matthew Williamson reining home six of them.

Williamson helps out Allen with trackwork, with the pair training alongside each other at the Oamaru track.

“We worked them earlier in the week and Matt said I think you are going to have a bit of fun on Thursday.”

“The horse has been thereabouts; it is the story of his career really.”

“So it is great for him to get one.”

Though he isn’t known to race too far from home, Salute may be seen in Canterbury soon.

The pacer has a decent record on grass, having won once and placed twice in seven starts.

“We might head to Motukarara next for a junior driver’s race, it would be good to get a (penalty) free win to keep his rating down a bit.”

Salute came to Allen’s stable after the trainer had success with his close relation Lord Fantasy.

The five-year-old had placed five times since coming to Oamaru before breaking through on Thursday.

“He’s actually Lord Fantasy’s nephew, his breeders offered him to me on lease because I had Lord Fantasy.”

The relations are two of four horses Allen has in work.