Kade Howson
Late last year Bunbury trainer Murray Hansen was mystified when Zacs Nuggett lost form and was most disappointing when he managed just two third placings from eight starts in Kalgoorlie.
He then made a wise decision that the WA-bred pacer needed a change of scenery to help him regain his zest for racing. So he gave him to Kade Howson to prepare him at his Pinjarra training establishment.
This has paid dividends with the eight-year-old gelding returning to form and notching two wins, two seconds and two thirds from 11 starts for Howson.
And Howson is confident that Zacs Nuggett will maintain his good form by winning the $19,000 Sue Ritson Birthday Surprise Pace over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“Murray is a good friend of mine and when Zacs Nuggett wasn’t firing in Kalgoorlie last October and November he decided he needed a change of scenery to regain form,” Howson said. “I guess old horses can do that with a change of environment. He’s going really well and he had no luck last week when he didn’t get a crack at them.”
Zacs Nuggett, driven by Howson, started from the inside of the back line and he trailed the pacemaker Kiss Chasey and was hampered for room throughout the final circuit when an unlucky third to Kiss Chasey.
“That’s not where he likes to be,” Howson said. “He likes to be out rockn’rollin. He has drawn barrier six this week and we’ll press forward from there and get outside the leader, probably Say It Now. I’d be happy to get outside whatever is in front over 2536m, which is his pet distance. He’s going good and if he wins another race he’s just about done his job.”
Howson said that he had transferred talented, but injury-plagued Ohoka Samson to Hansen and was hoping the nine-year-old would resume after a spell in good form. “We did a swap after I was having trouble with him.”
Howson also predicted a bright future for New Zealand-bred four-year-old Ohoka Cooper, who was most impressive when he scored a brilliant first-up victory at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
