Daughter Not About To Follow Dad's Lead

Sunday, 11 April 2010 03:59

A taste of Group One victory for the daughter of one of New Zealand's most successful trainers has not altered her thoughts about following in her father's footsteps.

Kylie Wheeler, daughter of John Wheeler, was the stable's representative at Te Aroha on Saturday where Juice won the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes.

The 35-year-old has been working full-time for her father for about five years combining trackwork riding and office duties, but isn't about to follow his lead.

"I don't particularly want to be a trainer," Wheeler told NZPA.

"I don't mind the hard work but when you are training you can go five or six months without getting a decent wage."

John Wheeler has been one of the country's best trainers for years and just last month was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.

He was not on hand for Saturday's win, having just returned from the Great Eastern jumps meeting in South Australia.

Juice has always shown potential and was one of the better three-year-old fillies last season. She won the Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings before finishing second in the One Thousand Guineas and fourth in the New Zealand Derby.

"Her ideal distance is probably 1600 metres," Wheeler said.

"We were really happy with her. We knew she was right on target but at the same time you know in races like that you have to have everything go right."

Wheeler was unsure of future plans for Juice, but a return to the Brisbane winter carnival was likely. She had two starts in Brisbane last year but was unplaced in both.

By Bertolini, Juice was purchased for $20,000 at the 2007 NZ national yearling sale and has raced 26 times for six wins and seven placings.

Hayden Tinsley gave Juice a good run three back on the outer, ranged up out wide on the turn and got the better of leader Culminate halfway down the straight to score by three-quarters of a length in the excellent time of 1:34.9.

Favourite Culminate jumped well from a wide barrier to lead and although she fought strongly to take second she did not help her chances by drifting out in the straight.

Three-quarters of a length back third was Obsession, who was hindered by Culminate in the straight.

Australian visitor Emblem Of Liberty, trained by Lee Freedman, was handy all the way and finished sixth while last year's winner and second favourite Dane Julia, also trained by Freedman, tracked the winner throughout and finished eighth.