3 minute read

Group Three winner Times Ticking has been a true family affair for the MacGregors, and now he has officially been passed down to the next generation.

The nine-year-old son of Tavistock was co-bred by Alby MacGregor, and the Opaki horseman trained the gelding to 11 victories from 49 starts, including the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m), Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) and Listed Easter Cup (1600m).

In the last couple of years, MacGregor has been a frequent visitor to the South Island with Times Ticking, where they have stayed with his son Dean at his Rangiora property.

Times Ticking became a family project in that time, and MacGregor senior felt this season was the right time to pass the baton onto the next generation and has handed the training duties over to Dean, who also shares in the ownership of the horse.

"Dad decided not to renew his licence, so he was a nice horse to pass on," Dean MacGregor said. "He (Times Ticking) spent a bit of time in the South Island over the last 18 months or so and I have had him down here when he has travelled down, so we have got to know him pretty well.

"Dad is still behind the scenes and is a pretty good coach to have in the background. There isn't much he hasn't seen or done over the years with horses, so it is good to have his guidance at times."

Racing has always been in the blood for MacGregor, but he has only recently taken out his trainer's licence and has already tasted success, scoring one win from nine starts to date.

Times Ticking  is MacGregor's only horse in work at the moment, but he said that is plenty, as time is a rare commodity in his busy schedule.

"I have had a corporate career, so I have just got him in work, which is a bit of a juggle," he said. "The kids are all into horses, my daughter and my son, who is an apprentice farrier, so between us we juggle him.

"When you have got a busy corporate job, it is quite nice to have something that takes you away from that and you think about something else for a while. I really enjoy it."

Times Ticking had his first public hit-out for MacGregor at the Ashburton trials on Tuesday, where he won his 1000m heat.

"He had a nice trial, he worked to the line nice, and seemed to pull up well," MacGregor said.

"He is getting on in years, but it was nice to see him today. He looked like he still wants to be out there and doing it, so while he is happy, we will keep him going."

Times Ticking has a particular affinity with Riccarton Park, and MacGregor's intention is to head to the Christchurch track during New Zealand Cup week, where his main aim will be the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m), a race he finished fourth in last year.

"He does like it down here, he certainly likes Riccarton," MacGregor said. "I think he has only had five or six starts there and he has won three and has been thereabouts in some of the bigger races.

"He will probably head towards to Coupland's (TAB Mile). He will have a start before then but all going well, and if he looks like he is in good form, we will probably head there. He has started in it in the last couple of years and he has gone reasonably well."