Turning unwanted horses into winners

ALECTOWN trainer, Stan Townsend and his son Nathan have always been able to produce a handy pacer from their Rose Vale property, 20 kilometres north of Parkes.

Most of their success in past seasons has come from horses that they have bred.

After a few year’s absence, when they concentrated on their farming interests, the Townsends took a new approach to their involvement in the sport, purchasing some nice broodmares and preparing the progeny for the yearling sales.

And that venture proved successful as they bred some talented horses, including Rays Choice and Black Silhouette.

Stan offered a nice filly at the 2016 Yearling Sale, but she failed to reach the asking price, prompting him to train her himself.

That filly turned out to be Our Antonia Rose who won the 2020 Group 3 Golden Easter Egg at Tabcorp Park Menangle for Jason Grimson, giving the Townsends one of their biggest thrills in the sport.

But while their past success has been achieved through breeding quality stock, the past year has seen them winning races with “cast-offs” that other trainers have given up on.

Their run of success began with Neverhaveiver, Impersonate and Oxs Art Major, mares that won races in quick succession.

More recently Stan and Nathan have picked up a couple of bargain buys with former Bathurst mare Aunty Millie and Tamworth gelding Cloudin Up shaping up as handy performers on the Western District circuit.

“I am not exactly sure why we are having such a good run with these cheap purchases, maybe we are just good trainers,” grinned Nathan.

“No seriously, I think it is because Dad and I study their past form, have asked their former trainers what problems they had, and worked through the issues.

“We also give them plenty of time and don’t overwork them, keeping them fresh in the tranquil surroundings of our farm,” said Townsend.

This afternoon at Parkes, team Townsend will be hoping their successful formula for transforming these unwanted horses will be evident yet again.

Aunty Millie will contest Race 2 and despite drawing wide in gate five, comes up against a similar field to the one she met at Dubbo last Sunday when she ran home well for third.

Cloudin Up (Race 6) was having his second start for the stable at Dubbo last week and was an impressive winner.

 – MICHAEL DUMESNY