Mike Breslin will enjoy a delayed celebration of his milestone victory at Tauherenikau during the week.
The Awapuni horseman saddled his 500th domestic winner on Wednesday when the promising Sevenayes(NZ) (Vespa) accounted for his Rating 75 opposition, but the timing meant it passed without an appropriate toast to the occasion.
“It was a twilight meeting, so we took the horses off the truck when we got home at 9.15pm and then back at work at 4.30 the next morning,” Breslin said.
“I quite like a nice red wine, so I’ll probably open a good bottle on Saturday night and celebrate that way.”
Breslin has yet to strike at the top level, but he’s gone close on several occasions.
“I’ve had lots of handy horses and Dancing Daze was a really good one who could have won anything,” he said.
“She did win a Group Two (Championship Stakes, 2100m) and Lance O’Sullivan rode her and said she could win a Group One, but she had a few issues after that.
“I’ve never had a Group One winner, I’ve had a few placings, and that niggles me a bit I suppose, but it is what it is and you can only do the best you can with the horses you’ve got.
“Win wise, Golden Harvest (nine) and Heni (11) were both really good as well.”
Breslin has also enjoyed success across the Tasman with one of his football theme-named representatives.
“I had a Thorn Park horse called Klose who won first-up at Rosehill and then he got a virus and went in the wind,” he said.
“I’ve got a close relation to him named Crouch, I come from a football background and have had a bit of success naming horses with soccer connotations.”
Miroslav Klose is the leading all-time German goal scorer with 71 while Peter Crouch netted 22 times for England.
“I also had a horse called Leeds (five wins) and that’s the team I’ve supported since I was eight,” said Breslin, a former National League player whose father Paddy represented New Zealand.”
Breslin will now look forward to Sunday’s meeting at Trentham to advance his winning tally and tipped Colorado Star (Taylor Property Plus Handicap, 2100m) and Rushin Home (Rothley Maiden, 1300m) as his best chances.
A creditable sixth in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) two runs back, Colorado Star most recently finished eighth and less than four lengths off the winner Whangaehu in the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m).
“Last season, we had a few niggles with his feet and now he’s a sound and happy horse,” Breslin said.
“His run in the Thompson was really good and he pulled too hard in the Wanganui Cup, he ranged up and then it took its toll.
“He needs a little bit of give in the track and I wouldn’t keep a nine-year-old going if I didn’t think he could come back, he’s not too far off the mark.”
The lightly tried Rushin Home was fourth at Otaki after making the running before she drew an outside gate last time out and made late ground to finish seventh on heavy going.
“She’s a filly I’ve got a bit of time for, a wet track didn’t help her at Tauherenikau last time and I think she’s a progressive type and who should be hitting the line well,” Breslin said.
