A gritty front-running display from improving mare Deeligna at Te Rapa on Saturday provided Te Aroha trainer Peter Lock with a significant career milestone as he brought up his 300th winner as a trainer.
Lock, who moved to his current base after spending a number of years training from the Te Rapa venue, made an immediate start on his next century of winners when durable veteran Re Deel provided win number 301 and a double on the day with victory just three races later.
“I was going stale at Te Rapa and as there didn’t seem to be much interest in maintaining trainers there I started having a look around,” he explained.
“I looked at a number of options but settled on the property at Te Aroha as it was such a superb set-up. Antony Fuller had done a lot of the development work before he moved to Tauranga so I came in and added a few things and we haven’t looked back since.“The people here have been fantastic and very helpful while I also have my son working with me and the services of a couple of experienced track riders so things have really cranked along.
“I think that was my 14th win since we got here which isn’t too bad as we only have a team of about 15-20 in work at any one time so our strike rate has been very good.”Lock was delighted with both of his Saturday winners and in particular the reward for eight-year-old gelding Re Deel.
“He is just a horse that gives his all every time he steps out,” he said.“We had changed a few things with his diet after his last run as we couldn’t figure out why he went so poorly at Ellerslie. Blood tests showed he had too much protein in his system so out vet recommended some feed changes and it worked the oracle.
“He is just below the top level but when he gets in the right class he is hard to beat and he likes a scrap as he showed on Saturday.”Lock is also hopeful that the son of Volksraad can provide him with another special moment on his new home course later in the season.
“I’ve just got on to the committee at the club and I’d love to win the Te Aroha Cup with him as he is owned locally and it would be a tremendous thrill,” he said.“He ran third in the race last year so to win it on the Club’s biggest day would be a real highlight.”
