Racing
League
Rugby
Football
Cricket
Golf
Sport Nation
Motorsport
Netball
Basketball
Combat Sports
Olympics
Other Sports
Live sport on SN this weekendFaulkner seeking fairytale milestone at Phar Lap centenary
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • October 2nd, 2026 4:01 pm
Smooth Operator will contest the Hekeao Feed Co Happy 100th Phar Lap (2200m) at Phar Lap Raceway on Sunday | Photo: Race Images South
Watching the Phar Lap movie as a girl was the catalyst for Stephanie Faulkner to pursue a career in racing, and it would be a fitting achievement for the Timaru horsewoman to bring up her 100th training win on the equine legend’s centenary at her home meeting on Sunday.
The South Canterbury Racing Club are hosting an 11-race meeting at Phar Lap Raceway this weekend, marking 100 years since Phar Lap’s birth at Seadown Stud, near Timaru.
A jockey in each race will don replicas of trainer Harry Telford’s silks, which Phar Lap carried to 37 victories, including two Cox Plates and the 1930 Melbourne Cup, and finally the Agua Caliente Handicap in Mexico shortly before his untimely death.
Apprentice jockey Liam Kauri will have the honour of wearing the silks in the Hekeao Feed Co Happy 100th Phar Lap (2200m) when he rides the Stephanie Faulkner-trained Smooth Operator, and Faulkner is excited about the prospect of potentially bringing up her century with the iconic silks.
“I am excited about that (Phar Lap’s silks) because when I watched the Phar Lap movie as a young girl who was mad-keen on horses, that was the point where I decided I wanted to be a jockey, “Faulkner said. “I just love the story and I know the movie word for word. I have watched it that many times. I have got it on DVD and I lend it to people and tell them to watch it because it is so good.”
On the cusp of 100 training wins, Faulkner said she would love to achieve the milestone on Sunday and do it in the memory of her mother, who bought Faulkner her first pony.
“I got my first pony when I was 13 because Mum and Dad weren’t into horses and we lived in town,” she said. “Bordering our property was 50 acres and there were a lot of kids down there who had horses, and I just used to beg, borrow and steal every ride I could get. Mum decided I could have a 10-speed or a pony, so guess what I chose?
“We lost Mum a couple of months ago, which was really sudden and really sad. Because I am sitting on 99 wins, she would be so proud, and it would be a fairytale if I could do it on Sunday.”
Smooth Operator heads into Sunday following a second-up fourth placing over a mile at the track last week, and Faulkner said he will thrive over further ground.
“I am really pleased with how he has progressed since his last very encouraging run,” she said. “He came home in nice sectionals, and it looks good because 2200m is his pet distance.”
The seven-year-old gelding is on a path towards the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton next month, a race he finished 13th in last year.
“We have got a nomination for the New Zealand Cup, so we will go forward to that,” Faulkner said. “It is a slightly different build-up to last year’s New Zealand Cup, which didn’t go that well, but we will give it another crack if he seems in the right form.”
Stablemate Shaking Stevens pleased when returning to winning form in the North Canterbury Cup (2000m) at Riccarton last Saturday, and he may head to Hastings next week to contest the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).
The son of American Pharoah is currently 23rd in order of entry, but with a few expected withdrawals, Faulkner is hoping he can make the 16-horse field.
“He is nominated for the Livamol, so if we get the chance we are going,” she said. “I have to make a decision by Tuesday as soon as the noms come out to see where he is on the list. If he is at worst first on the ballot, we go.”
Meanwhile, consistent mare Way Out West is enjoying some time in the paddock after posting her fourth win in seven starts for Faulkner at her home track last week, and stakes targets are now entering the conversation.
“She first raced for us in April and she has gone from a rating 60 to an open class galloper in seven starts,” Faulkner said. “She has just got a great attitude. She is only a little horse, but she loves a dogfight.
“That (stakes race) is the plan, but it won’t be over Cup Week because before Timaru I said she is going out for a month, win, lose or draw, and I stuck to my plan. She has done a good job.
“Hopefully we will find something in autumn. She deserves a crack at them (stakes races) now, she has proven that she wasn’t a fluke.”
