David Haworth has significantly reduced numbers at his Foxton operation in recent times but his eye for a winner is as keen as ever.
Haworth has a career tally of 492 victories to his credit, including Group One successes with Mac O’Reilly and Jurys Out, and Wigan Prince, Rosina Lad and The Foreman among other top performers from the stable.
Haworth also successfully operated in partnership with Matt Dixon, and for five seasons with daughter Emma, who now works for Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta.
“It suits Emma and she’s had a baby with her partner, she manages a few horses for people that we used to train for that are with Lisa now. I’ll have one or two there as well so it’s all good fun,” he said.
Among Haworth’s small team is the in-form Orlov who won for the seventh time last time out at Wanganui and will bid for two on the bounce in the Landmark Homes Handicap (1800m) at New Plymouth on Saturday.
“He’s going well now, we had some issues with him with COVID and then had a wind operation, which put us back,” he said.
“The tracks were then too wet for him last year and a bit this year as well, but he’s enjoying his racing and handling it all quite well.
“The firmer the better is what he really likes and he’s only a six-year-old and hasn’t had a lot of racing so I’ll keep him ticking over and might be able to find another race for him after this.
“Otherwise, he can go to the paddock and get him ready for next year.
“He’s a lovely horse to have around and it’s quite enjoyable. We used to win a lot of races once and now to win one or two is quite rewarding just to fiddle around and have something nice to deal with.”
Also a successful and long-standing stock agent, Haworth co-bred and part-owns Orlov who is out of the Guillotine mare Diamond Cut.
“She was very talented and could run like the wind. She won four races but broke down in the end and is doing a good job for us and it’s a lot of fun,” he said.
“I’ve got Orlov and his full brother jumped out at Levin on Tuesday, he’s with Lisa Latta and she had the Belardo one out of the mare.”
He was referring to Diamond Thief, who posted a brace of wins and three placings from five appearances.
“He was sold to Hong Kong and has had two starts there and gone awful both times, he might come right,” Haworth said.
“If he goes well that’s fine, we’ve got the family and the breed and if he goes no good then we’ve got the money.
“We’ve got a nice filly going to be broken in next week, she’s a half-sister by King Of Comedy and the mare is in foal to Noverre.”
A Group One-winning son of Savabeel, Noverre stands at Waikato Stud and Haworth also has an ongoing association with the Matamata farm.
“Mark Chittick and I have got a couple of Savabeel fillies, so I’ll still be floating around for a year or two yet,” he said.
