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A sociable syndicate with golden connections has made an early mark with the promising filly Aotearower.
The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained three-year-old opened her account at Te Rapa last weekend to fuel celebrations on a widespread scale.
Aotearower is raced by Olympic gold medallist rowers Hamish Bond, Nathan Cohen, Mahe Drysdale, Eric Murray, Joseph Sullivan with the Social Racing #1 Partnership and her breeders Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan.The daughter of Shamardal is managed by successful syndicator and Auckland Racing Club director Brent Cooper.
“I manage the Social Racing #1 Partnership, which has 200 members, on behalf of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and with the rowers involved it was an awesome result,” Cooper said.“Unfortunately, due to sporting commitments they couldn’t be at Te Rapa and it’s only the second time she’s raced that none of them have been on course.
“They are a great bunch of guys with not a cell of ego between them and they love it.”Aotearower, who will be nominated for the Gr.3 Higgins Manawatu Classic at Awapuni on March 28, was a deserved winner after placing in five of her previous seven starts.
“It was a bit of a soft kill for her and there’s more in store, for sure,” Cooper said. “She’s a big, strapping filly and Ken has always said that she will be better in six months’ time.”The Social Racing Partnership will also be represented by the Westbury Stud-bred Sisterhood at either Avondale or Ellerslie next week.
“She’s with Keith and Brendon Hawtin and we’ve got an unraced filly, Social Kay, from Little Avondale Stud with Stephen Marsh and she will trial next week,” Cooper said."It’s all about providing entry into racehorse ownership at an affordable level.”
Cooper also manages the Auckland Racing Club’s successful Winners’ Circle Syndicate.“Pinzaara won five for us and she earned a cheque 34 times from 39 starts, Cantina was a good second on Saturday and Elucidate won before Christmas,” he said.
Masquerade (Listed Soliloquy Stakes), So Regal and Nazeer have been other winning syndicate representatives.