Winning comes easy for first-time owner

Allie Maetzig can be excused if she has pinched herself once or twice this year to see if she is dreaming.

As a first-time owner, the New Plymouth octogenarian has enjoyed a dream introduction to horse racing.

She is a part-owner of Spiro, a rising star who made it five wins from his past six starts with a last- stride victory in the $30,000 Nicholas Finance 1800 at the Taranaki Thoroughbred Racing meeting at Pukekura Raceway on Saturday.

"It's given me a new lease of life," said Maetzig, 84, following the horse's latest success.

"I can't believe it really, it's wonderful.

"The good part, of course, is that my boys are paying all the bills," she beamed.

The boys are her sons Rob (New Plymouth), John (Wellington) and Bruce (Christchurch).

They race Spiro in partnership with Allie's brother Paddy Kay and his wife Sylvia, who trains the horse at Levin.

"We've got a lot of people to the races through the horse that have never been before," Sylvia said.

"It's been great because all the family gets together and for Allie it's so exciting for her.

"The boys gave her a TAB account for her birthday and I don't think she's had to top it up yet."

Plans for Spiro, now on 93 rating points, will see the horse have a week off before being prepared for a start in the Group Three $70,000 Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on March 20. "I'll have to leave it to Paddy because I'm going over to England early next month on the Cheltenham Gold Cup tour. Cheltenham is a week-long jumps racing carnival."

The tour party isn't due to return to New Zealand until March 21, meaning Paddy will be left in charge.

Awapuni jockey Kane Smith has been the rider of Spiro in five of his six wins to date and on Saturday said the horse just keeps getting "better and better" with every race.

"He's learning all the time. He's definitely going to be good. He's going to be a very good stayer."

Spiro claimed race pacemaker The Pooka right on the line, winning in a photo finish by half a head.

- © Fairfax NZ News