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Sport Nation
Hong Kong recruit’s adaptability to be tested
Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • April 29th, 2025 1:45 pm
Photo: Nicole Troost
Clinton Isdale will put the versatility of a former Hong Kong galloper to the test on Wednesday.
The Cambridge trainer will head south to the Central Districts with a team of three, including newcomer Gallant Hero who will step out in the Dannevirke Dairy Supplies Woodville-Pahiatua Cup (2100m).
Isdale has been satisfied with the progress made by the seven-year-old since joining his team, with a question of direction the only answer he’s not sure of.
“He’s definitely got ability, I’m just not sure how he’ll go left-handed but we’ll find out. It’s going to be interesting,” he said.
Gallant Hero has earned pass marks from his first three appearances in New Zealand and will be suited by the step up in distance.
“He’s been good in all of his runs, first-up over 1200m he did a few things wrong which he did in Hong Kong when he hung in a little bit, but his sectionals were good,” Isdale said.
“Second up over 1500m he hit the line well along the inside at Ellerslie and they were probably making better ground out wide.
“The other day he got crowded up and when he got into clear air, he hit the line nicely (for fifth).”
The Irish-bred Gallant Hero won four races, including three on the bounce, up to 2200m in Hong Kong.
“Ben Foote got him off David Hall and gave him to me, I sold a horse to Hong Kong and Ben got it back and asked if I would take it and this one as well,” Isdale said.
“He reached his mark up there, he wasn’t sore or anything and didn’t have any injuries.”
Promising three-year-old Melkor was a strong debut third at Waverley and has accepted in both the NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m) and the Property Brokers Pahiatua/Woodville (1100m).
“The 1200m race looks a bit weaker and I only put him in the 1100 thinking they would get a heavy track, but the rain hasn’t eventuated there,” Isdale said.
“He went really well first-up on a heavy track, he hit the line well.
“He got taken on for three-quarters of the race and got pushed down to the worst part of the track and still looked the winner with 40m to go.”
Lady Moana rounds off the team and she looks well-placed in the Corey Wiki Memorial (1600m) following a last-start fifth in stronger company at Pukekohe.
“I’ve always thought she was a wet tracker, she won a couple in a row on them when I first got her,” Isdale said.
“Kelly (Myers) got off her last time and seemed to think she was probably a little bit sick of the wet tracks.
“She’s back to a Rating 60 and if she puts her best foot forward then she’ll be quite hard to beat.”
