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Speech Craft is proving to be a grand money spinner for Awapuni trainer Trina Riddell and her syndicate of owners that includes a number from the harness world.

The seven-year-old won four races from Richard Collett’s stable before he was entered in last year’s May Sale at Karaka where Riddell secured him for $5500.

“I didn’t go up and I got Danny Rolston to bid for me,” she said. “It’s been great and the owners are getting a big thrill out of racing him.”

Speech Craft has won two of his five starts, and $34,500, for Riddell and should have finished closer than fourth last time out at Matamata where he was denied room in the straight.

“I was pretty sure he should have won and so was Leith (Innes),” she said. “The horse’s racing pattern doesn’t help, he gets back and runs on.

“The inside draw didn’t really help either and Leith had no choice but to try and sneak up on the rail.”

Speech Craft, whose owners include harness identities Mark Jones, Blair Orange and Andrew Stuart, will have a golden opportunity to add to his record against a small field in Saturday’s Carters Ashhurst Pohangina Cup at Awapuni.

“I was tempted to go for the Group One at Te Rapa, but weight-for-age wouldn’t suit him – he’s only a small horse and 59kg may have flattened him,” Riddell, also a part-owner, said.

“I was wanting to get him in the Telegraph with a light weight, but he was balloted out and he had beaten Adventador pretty easily two starts before that.

“As long as he runs well on Saturday we might have a go at the Darley Plate at Auckland on Derby day.”

Speech Craft will be opposed by his stablemate Aldebaran Star, who is in the closing stages of his career.

“He likes the 1400 at Awapuni, but he hasn’t raced for a while and that’s my only concern,” Riddell said. “He’s been a good horse and is close to retirement.”