Tee Ball hits home run at Addington

By Mike Love 

Mother and son trainers Anne-Marie and Jack Best notched up their 25th win in partnership when Tee Ball won the Woodlands Stud - All Star Five Handicap Pace at Addington yesterday. 

“It’s wonderful. He’d worked well during the week, but I didn't expect him to win as easily as he did,” said Anne-Marie Best. 

The three-year-old Captaintreacherous gelding made a flyer from the tapes to secure the lead with driver Sarah O’Reilly. From there, the pair dominated the race, eventually careering away to win by two-and-a-half lengths with closing sectionals of 56.9 and 27.5.

“Sarah said he jogged it.”

That made it two wins so far in his short career at start seven, accompanying three second placings. 

“He’s been green and it's taken him a while to come to it. He’s a lovely horse and we are lucky we’ve got him.” 

“Jack and I said we will need to be patient with him. He’s showing it now.” 

Tee Ball was purchased by Best for $95,000 at the 2024 National Yearling Sales in Christchurch after catching her eye.  

“We went to have a look at a trotter we liked (Taimate Hill), and while there I spotted a horse, and I really liked him. I was talking to the breeders and they encouraged me to try for him."  

Denise Ottley broke him in.

“Her breaking-in is amazing, she does an incredible job.” 

The Bests have their rising star trotter The Present Maker due for a return. Currently the eight-win trotter is doing some ground work on the water walker. The Present Maker has won his last three, with his last outing back in December when winning one of the listed Harness 5000 races at Ashburton. 

Tee Ball meanwhile is likely to be seen a few more times before heading for a spell. 

“We will probably give him another race or two, then he will have a break. There is a lot of good racing in spring.”