Kilgour’s first NZ win at Alexandra Park “unbeatable feeling”

[Wandering Eyes]

By Michael Guerin

Sammy Kilgour got her first New Zealand win as a horse trainer when Loteria finally got things right at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

But it might have felt more like her first win as a horse psychiatrist.

Kilgour has spent much of her life in Australia but has lived on both sides of the Tasman since meeting her now fiancee Joshua Dickie.

The pair trained winners in partnership in Australia but when Loteria overcame the unruly to easily leave maidens in the Classique Landscapers Trot it was Kilgour’s first in just her own right, albeit Dickie might have leant her a hand on the odd occasion.

The daughter of Majestic Son has always shown ability but Kilgour says her issue has been her nerves so her trainer decided to make her confront them.

“She gets really nervous around other horses so I have been making her spend as much time with other horses as possible,” explains Kilgour.

“Her manners issues are all because of that, nothing to do with her attitude.

“She actually has a lovely attitude which is why Josh and I love her so much, it was just a matter of getting her confidence up.

“So to see her come out and win like that was an unbeatable feeling.”

Kilgour works Loteria herself most mornings at Dickie’s father John’s property before heading to her day job alongside Joshua at Stonewall Stud.
 
“We love it there and they are great people to work with.”

Loteria was one of two horses the couple brought back from Victoria with them, the other being a son of Sweet Lou and the Kilgour-owned Miracle Mile winner Baby Bling, who is currently spelling.

Loteria struggled with the standing starts when she first started racing in New Zealand so Kilgour is thrilled her main aim for the end of the season, the $100,000 Golden Gait Trot for three-year-olds on December is a mobile mile.

But Kilgour and Dickie also have some even more long-term planning to do, as the couple are engaged but with no wedding date in sight.

“We have both been so busy and the hardest part is finding time to go look at some venues. But we will get around to it,” she laughs.

Kilgour’s first New Zealand training success was one of the highlights of a night that saw Sooner The Better back in the winner’s circle when he led throughout in the hands of Crystal Hackett after dropping a long way back in grade.

And Faith In Manchester kept up her fine form with an almost all-the-way win in the main trot as she prepares for the new $100,000 Group 1 trot the Queen Of Diamonds in three weeks.

While she has won three of her last four starts she will still be off the front in the new trot on December 13 so therefore very hard to beat.

 

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