Stakes winner to make New Zealand debut

[Wandering Eyes]

Cambridge trainer Darrel Lang is looking forward to heading to Te Rapa on Saturday where nine-win gelding Open Minded will make his New Zealand debut in the Group One Turf Bar Sprint (1200m).

Bred by Tim Harrison, the now seven-year-old gelding was initially in the care of Darryl’s father Roger, for whom he won his sole trial in New Zealand before being sold to clients of Anthony Freedman.

The son of Jimmy Choux went on to win nine and place in four of his 28 starts in Australia, including victory in the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m), before he returned to New Zealand at the end of last year and entered the care of Darrel Lang, who now shares in the ownership of the horse with Harrison.

“He is a credit to Sam and Anthony, they have done a great job with him,” Lang said. “He hasn’t been over-raced and has been well looked after.

“He came back and had a few minor structural issues, but his legs were all fine. We ironed them out with Baz Dowling (equine chiropractor), who is probably the best in the business, and Peter Neal (equine muscle therapist). They have both done an excellent job on this horse.

“We ironed those problems out before we brought him back into work. He arrived back in New Zealand on the 27^th of December. We gave him plenty of time and then brought him back in and brought him up slowly.”

Lang continued his patient approach through his racing preparation, and he said that patience is starting to pay off as Open Minded nears his race day resumption.

“He had a jumpout here (Cambridge) and then we took him to Matamata for another jumpout and Troy Harris (jockey) was good enough to ride him for us and give us a good line on him,” Lang said.

“We gave him another jumpout before trialling him at Rotorua, which was a fair trial (third behind Babylon Berlin).

“We found after that trial that he was jamming his tongue back a bit, so we put a tongue-tie on him and trialled him the other day and he went really well (to win his 1100m heat at Pukekohe).

“Our vet, Steven Christopher, went over him and said he couldn’t believe it was the same horse that he looked at couple of months ago. The horse is thriving and is physically sound, and mind-wise he is very bright.”

Lang said he is excited about resuming Open Minded this weekend, although he has plenty of respect for his opposition and just wants to see his charge put in a good run.

“I am looking forward to Saturday, he is going to take a run with eight or nine months away from the races, but if we can get him back to 90 percent as good as he was, he is going to be quite competitive,” he said.

“Looking at the field, Guy Lowry’s horse (Wewillrock) is a standout, Stephen Autridge’s mare (Caitlyns Wish) is racing well, and I always have time for Gospodin, he is a nice horse. This is a fitness run for him and to see where we are at.”

All going well following Saturday, Lang said he would love to target Open Minded towards the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa next month, a race he has a close association with.

“The Foxbridge Plate is a race I would really like to win,” he said. “I won it as a jockey and Dad won it as a jockey, and my grandfather has had luck in the race as well.

“That is what we are aiming for with him. He has got to show good form in his second run to make sure he is coming back right and to get his points up a bit too.”

Open Minded is set to carry 57.5kg on Saturday, a much lighter impost than his last couple of starts in Australia.

“I am impressed with our handicapper,” Lang said. “He left Australia a rating 91 and he has given him a chance at a rating 87, so that is good for the horse. He is a big, strong, 520 kilo horse, so he has no problems carrying weight, but this will be the lightest weight he has had on his back for quite a while.”

Lang is hoping Open Minded can perform this spring not only for himself, but his staff and co-owner Harrison, who he said has been a great supporter over the years.

“It is something to look forward to because our stable is a trading stable, so it is nice to have an open-class horse in the stable I can play with,” Lang said.

“He is a special horse to the stable and the people who ride work for me love him. He is an old gentleman. I am very thankful to Tim for giving me half of the horse.

“Tim is such a special owner and deserves a lot of credit. He is a single operator, breeds a lot of horses, and has about six or seven horses here at the stables. He has shown me the greatest amount of support since mum and dad passed away and this horse was special to mum and dad, even when they sold him for Tim.

“It would be quite special to even win a race with him.”

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