Anton Oliver was a star on the rugby field and his namesake provided a highlight of the Methven meeting at Ashburton yesterday when the 6yr-old won first up in fast time.
Oliver is a former All Black turned environmentalist and academic who is on his way to study at Cambridge University after graduating from Oxford.
Anton Oliver is trained at Winchmore by Alex Hastie, who races the gelding with his wife, Pam, Dunedin breeder Bill Eade and his wife, Sonja Dillon.
Eade and former jockey Hastie (64) have been racing horses for 30 years with Dunback Lad their first winner at Wyndham in 1984.
Loader, a half-brother to Anton Oliver, won them four races from seven starts in 1999. The Cameleon gelding was under offer to an overseas buyer when he reared at the start of the 2000 Four-Year-Old Championship at Forbury Park and injured an ankle. He underwent bone surgery but did not stand training when tried again.
"Alex told me Anton Oliver was the best horse we have had when he was a 3yr-old but he has been out for 16 months with tendon trouble," Eade said.
The injury is believed to have occurred when he stepped off a ramp when being educated at loading on a truck. The leg swelled again as an early 4yr-old.
Anton Oliver qualified late in July and he has subsequently won two trials. Anton Oliver led over 2400m from the mobile gate and recorded a time of 2.57.9, a 1.59.2 mile rate.
He ran his last 800m in 57.6 and won by two and a-half lengths.
He is among 10 winners left in New Zealand by his sire, I Am A Fool, a son of Life Sign.
Anton Oliver is out of Money Back, who has left other winners, Money Magnet and McCaw for the same connections.
• Heezadoo Early, another late-comer to racing, stormed home to win a maiden trot yesterday at his fourth start.
The 5yr-old trained by Phil Williamson, began racing a month ago. Heezadoo Early joined Williamson three months ago after qualifying from the Pukekohe stable of Steven Reid in May. Heezadoo Early is raced by Auckland breeders Ken and Karen Breckon, who bought him back for $21,000 at the 2008 Australasian Classic yearling sale.
Heezadoo Early is a half-brother by Earl to I Can Doosit, winner of the Interdomninion Trotting Final at Alexandra Park in April. His dam Sheezadoosie has also left Sno's Big Boy (12 wins) and three other winners from five foals to race.
• The Widowmaker, who has not raced since February, won a trial at Oamaru on Saturday.
The Widowmaker won fresh up at Ashburton in November. He won the trial by a neck from Springbank Richard, who is set to resume in the Ordeal Cup on Friday week.
Results of trials:
Qualifying test, trotters, 2500m: Share The Joy G Telfer 1; Pretty As A Picture 2. Two started.Dist. Time, 4.01.9 (none qualified).
0w pacers and qualifying test, 2000m:Loose Canon and Presidential Honour equal 1; Lucy Holmes 3. Five started. Dd ht, 2L. Time, 2.34.4. Trainer, J Patterson and D Brown (Presidential Honour, qualified).
0w trotters, 2600m: Irish Whisper B Williamson 1; Warder 2; Uramao 3. Three started. 1 1/2L, dist. Time, 3.32.6. Trainer, P Williamson.
0w pacers, mobile, 2000m: Fast Around Town B Williamson 1; Falcon Dale 2; Romaninthegloamin 3. Four started. 2 1/2L, 1/2L. Time, 2.38.4. Trainer, R Beale.
1w+ trotters, 2600m: The Widowmaker B Williamson 1; Springbank Richard 40 2; Perdition 3. Three started. Nk, 2L. Time, 3.30.1. Trainer, P Williamson.
