Win brightens Hutton’s week

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Luminosity’s win at Addington Raceway on Sunday capped what can only be described as a bloody good week for Greendale trainer Bruce Hutton.

The Canterbury horseman has been through a rough couple of years with cancer and earlier this week he was given some positive news from his specialist.

“I had a stem cell transplant for lymphoma cancer in January,” Hutton said.

“We had a really good report on Wednesday and everything looks good. The hematologist gave me a five-star rating when I was talking to him on Wednesday. All the tests are showing that things are good.”

Hutton had previously undergone chemotherapy five years ago, however, the cancer resurfaced 18 months ago and Hutton began a yearlong path to undergo a stem cell transplant.

“I had a round of chemo about five years ago and then I went into remission,” Hutton said.

“I got a bit back 18 months ago and it was a 12 month process of treatments from there.

“I spent three weeks in hospital in January while they did the transplant. You have to stay in an immune environment because your system is compromised.”

While Hutton has been through a lot in the last five years, he has a positive outlook and is looking forward to the future.

“The front window of your car is bigger than your rearview mirror for a reason, so you have to look forward not backwards,” he said.

“We are out to seeing the specialist every six months now, so at this stage it is all systems go.”

Buoyed by the positive news on Wednesday, Hutton was looking forward to lining up his consistent trotter Luminosity in the IRT. Flying Your Horses To The Cup Mobile Trot (1980m) on Sunday and he was delighted when she recorded her maiden victory.

“She is pretty royally bred, so it always looks better if they can get into the stud book with a win to their name. We are pretty pleased about that,” Hutton said.

Driven by Jim Curtin, the six-year-old mare sat parked for the majority of the race, but kicked clear of her rivals turning for home and recorded a four length victory over Trixton Time, with a further half-neck back to Aristocrat in third.

Race favourite Royal Pride was held up by a tiring The Good Doctor, but Hutton believes his mare would have been too good even if he had found clear running room.

“It was a good run and she had to do a bit of work,” Hutton said.

“It was a bit weaker field than the one she faced the other night, but she could have won any of her last six or seven starts.

“She just hasn’t had the rub of the green. But today I think she would have been too good even if the favourite did get a better run.”

Luminosity was bred by Hutton, who co-owns her with stable client Brent Smith.

“Brent Smith has been an owner since I started training 30 years ago and he has stuck with me through thick and thin,” Hutton said. “It’s a thrill to get a win for him, but unfortunately he couldn’t see it today.”

Hutton won’t have to wait long until Luminosity’s progeny hit the track, with her two-year-old Love You colt having already joined his barn

“He’s a work in progress,” Hutton said. “Leo O’Reilly broke him in for me when I was out of action in January. He is a lovely horse, but he just doesn’t have the idea about trotting yet.

“He has had five or six months off in the paddock and he is back in now and seems to be clicking on a bit now.”