Veteran horseman continues West Coast tradition

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Murray Pash will continue a 40-year tradition when he heads to Westport on Sunday to begin the West Coast circuit.

The Richmond trainer has enjoyed heading to the Coast to not only race, but to catch up with the many friends he has made in harness racing over the years.

“You have to go to the Coast or you don’t know anything about harness racing,” Pash said.

“It is always good to down there. I come from Canterbury originally, and I know quite a few people who go over from there. I have been in the game for a long time so you make a lot of friends.

“It is about 40 years that I have been going to the Coast, I went there in 1970 for the first time after I shifted from Southland.

“It has just got better and better.”

While most people are tucking into their Christmas turkey on Saturday, Pash will be making his way south to Westport with his small racing team.

“We get away late Christmas morning and head down there and enjoy the people down there, the Buller people are lovely,” he said.

“It is always a great three days of racing down there.”

Pash’s team will be headed by five-year-old mare Jazelle who will start behind the 10m tape in the Pulse Energy Westport Cup (3200m).

The daughter of Changeover heads into the race off the back of victory at Addington Raceway last month and has pleased in her subsequent two trials at Nelson.

“She was well driven and it was nice to see her finish off like that at Addington,” Pash said.

“We went to Westport for a trial and we got rained out there a fortnight ago. She trialled well last Sunday and is bright as a button, I hope she can step the mark.”

Jazelle is somewhat of a veteran when it comes to the West Coast circuit and Pash is hoping that will hold her in good stead over the next week.

“Jazelle has been going down there for a couple of years, this will be her third trip down there,” Pash said.

“She has won one down there so we hope to win another this time.”

Pash will also line-up Pembrook Tilly in the One Agency Real Estate Specialists Pace (2000m).

“We had a bit of a problem with her early on in the season, but we seem to have got that resolved,” he said.

“She went well in her last trial. She was pretty fresh and pulled a bit, led up and only got run down in the last 60m. I was happy with the way she went.

“She likes the grass track and she is generally a very good beginner from the stand.”