New announcement. Learn more

Sunline ScholarshipScholarshipNew Zealand BloodstockBreeders' BulletinCambridge StudRich HillCovid-19BreedingIrish National StudWaikato StudHaunui FarmPearl SeriesBelardoCheveley Park StudGavelhouse PlusBreeders BulletinBrighthill FarmCoolmoreWindsor Park StudBruce SladeLittle Avondale StudRITATaylor MadeTrelawney StudBruce's BlogBulletinMapperley StudMatt's BlogMatthew ScownNovara ParkWeanling SaleAlmanzorIffraajJamie RichardsMatt ScownNational Breeding AwardsOcean ParkRobert DennisSatono AladdinThe Oaks StudBevan SmithDavid Morris BlogFirst Crop Sire FocusHighden ParkHolly RossHolly's BlogNZTRSavabeelTavistockTime TestValachi DownsWellfield LodgeWentwood GrangeWestbury StudWhite Robe Lodge2020 New SiresBevan's BlogCurraghmoreEminentJamie's BlogKeith and Faith Taylor Equine ScholarshipKiwi BredLance Forbes BlogMelody BelleNathan TrumperNZB Pearl SeriesPer IncantoRaise The FlagRobert's BlogBenji KingBenji's BlogCameron Ring BlogContributerDanielle Southey BlogGavelhouseGordon CunninghamGrangewilliam StudHannah AireyHannah MeeHello YoumzainNZB South Island SaleSouth Island SaleSweynesseWelfareCharm SpiritDylan TreweekDylan's BlogEmbellishHannah's BlogInglewood StudKoldingLaura McNabMarie LeicesterNewmarketNZB InsuranceReliable ManRibchesterSam BergersonVadamosVespaWroteWyndspelleAce HighAide MemoireBagalolliesBeyond the BarriersBreeding AwardsCameron RingChris LuoniCoronavirusDalgharDarci BrahmaDavid ArcherDon GoodwinEtah JamesHall of FameJon SnowLance ForbesMilan ParkNZ Racing Hall of FameOcean EmperorPolly GreyPrefermentRacingRichard WrightRoad to RockSacred FallsShamexpressShockingShowcasingSir Patrick HoganStaphanosSuper SethTivaciTurn Me LooseVanbrughWaikato Stallion WeekendWeigh InYearling SalesZedAlamosaAlice JeffriesAlice WilkinsonAncient SpiritAtlanteAuckland Breeder AwardsAvantageBeauty GenerationBLOODSTOCK TAXATIONBradbury ParkBreeder of The YearCallsign MavCatalystCEO BlogChief Executive's BlogChristopher GraceClyde BuckinghamCoolmore IrelandDean McKenzieDennis BrothersDorian KosDunstan Breeder of the MonthEducationExplosive BreedingFalkirkFasttrack Breeders ProfileFoster FoalFrankelGerry HarveyGingernutsHealthy RiversHighviewIgraineJakkalberryJennifer EcclesJoan EganJohnny Get AngryJomara BloodstockKaraka 2021Karaka MillionLion's RoarLisa LattaLloyd MonehanMare ReturnsMark ChittyMark LuptonMembershipMorgan WilksNearco StudNick KingNZTBA Waikato BranchOcean BillyOceanexOff The Track ThoroughbredsPattern CommitteePear Tree FarmPinsRacing Industry BillRangitikei Gold CupReady To Run SaleRoaring LionRock 'n' PopRyan StaceyShannon TaylorSneaking To WinStallion paradeStallion parade 2019Surprise BabyTarzinoTe AkauTe Aroha Breeders DayTen SovereignsThe Chosen OneTheileria equiTofaneToffee TongueTony PikeTony RiderUnusual SuspectVerry ElleegantWaikato BranchWar DecreeWarren PeggWarwick JeffriesWeanling WalkWillie and Karen CalderWinston PetersYearn2015/16 Handicaps2017 Waikato Stallion Parade2020 Service fees2020-21 Broodmare of the Year2021 New Season Sire Preview2021 NZB Weanling Sale30 Day Foal NotificationAblazeACC ForumACC LEVIESAdvantageAegonAerovelocityAl Basti EquiworldAlan GrovesAlan WindleAllan SharrockAllureAlphastarAmazing StarAndrew FowlerAndrew SeabrookAndrew StewartAnnabel WigleyAnne-Marie KingAnother DollarArdsley StudArrivederciArthur AvisAternatinAuckland Stallion ParadeAuckland Stallion Parade 2017Auret FamilyAvonalloAzamourBaggy GreenBansha House StablesBarbara PerryBattle of the BreedsBeaufort DownsBelle familyBen KwokBerkley StudBernard SaundryBessBig MikeBill GleesonBlandford LodgeBohemian BluesBonnevalBonniegirlBonny LassBostonianBoticaBRANCH CAPITATIONBred To WinBreeder Of The Year 2016Breeder ProfileBreeders Bulletin Winter 2016Breeders' Bulletin Summer 2016/17Breeders' StakesBrent and Cherry TaylorBrian CollinsBright AbyssBroodmare Of The Year 2016Broodmare of the year 2020Bruce HarveyBruce PerryBryerley ParkBuckinghamBurgundyCancer SocietyCareers DayCarol MarshallCathay PacificCatWalkCelia CrawshawCharles RobertsCharmontCherry TaylorCheveley ParkChiantiChocanteChris GraceCircus MaximusClearview ParkClimate changeColdplayComplacentCoolmore AmericaCouleeCount ZeroCountofmontecristoCovCoventinaCrosshavenCylinder BeachDan MyersDaniel NakhleDanny RolstonDavid EllisDavid GreeneDavid MillerDavid MorrisDavid PaykelDavid WalshDawn PatrolDe GruchyDeloitte ReportDerrynDezDijon BleuDivine ProphetDolcettoDormello StudDr Frances PeatDunstan FeedsDunstan Feeds Stayers ChampionshipDunstan Feeds Under The RadarDunstan Horse FeedsDylan JohnsonElephantElusive BoxersEmblemEmma EvansEnglandEnvironmentEpisode OneEquibreed Seminar 28th AugustEquifibreEquine Property OwnersEvent StarsExplosive JackExportsFabulousFanaticFarriersFasig-TiptonFastrack Breeder ProfileFasttrackFerlaxFerrandoFiona BassettFirst Season Sire ReviewFive to MidnightFlemmington FarmFlying MontyFlyingflynnFoal NZFoalsFormidableFoxbridgeFrank ConwayFree Handicaps 2016-17Full of BeautyG1 DinnerGalloping GerteGary WallaceGeorgeGeorge ChittickGermanicusGift Of PowerGilltown StudGina ShickGoffsGore GuineasGraham BaxGraham de GruchyGreg TomlinsonGus WigleyGuy LowryGypsy FairHallmark StudHamdan Al MaktoumHappy StarHard MerchandizeHe Waka Eke NoaHe's Our RokkiiHe's RemarkableHEALTH & SAFETY ACTHedwood ThoroughbredsHeniHigh ChaparralHighview StudHiyaamHoney RiderHorse ambulanceHouse of CartierHoward Be Thy NameHumidorI Am A StarIain RentonImmigrationImperatrizImposing LassImposinglyInfantryInside AgentIRDIrelandIts Time For MagicJanine DunlopJeanette BroomeJen CampinJericho CupJezabeelJimmy ChouxJohn BergerJohn FokerdJohn Messara Report Release Date 30 August 2018John ThompsonJohn WoodJonny OrrJulian CorbanJust Got HomeJustamaizKawiKay HoodKaye SandersKeanoKeenelandKevin GrayKevin HickmanKevin PrattKhalesKick BackKinaneKing of ComedyKoru ThoroughbredsKyla RobbKyla Robb BlogKylie FawcettKylin 500 ClubLa DiosaLa RomaneeLasarlaLegless VeuveLet Her RipLetham StudLib PetagnaLibby BleakleyLifesaverLightning StakesLincoln BlueLincoln FarmsLiz AllenLloch-Haven ThoroughbredsLondon ExpressLong Acres StudLorna MooreLuigi MuolloMadame De SoirMajor TomMakfiMakfi StakesMangaroa Flo JoMansfield FarmMarch 2016Mark CorcoranMark TreweekMary Lynne Ryan Young Achiever AwardMaster PaintonMay SaleMcQuadeMeeska MooskaMegan LieftingMeleka BelleMembersMiami boundMichael MoranMichael O'KeefeMichael SheridanMicheal StedmanMichelle SabaMick PrestonMiss Three StarsMiss VistaMiss WilsonMondoraniMongolian khanMonovaleMonovale FarmMontoyas SecretMonty RobertsMonza CircuitoMPIMustang ValleyNahkleNeedle and ThreadNew zealand racing hall of fameNew Zealand Small Breeder of the YearNigel AuretNight's WatchNitrogenNot An OptionNurse KitchenNZ Bred G1 WinnersNZ Breeder of the YearNZ First season sires 2018NZ HOTYNZ Racing AwardsNZ Racing StructureNZB AirfreightNZB Yearling SalesNZEHANZERFNZRBNZTBA Breeders Bulletin Autumn 2018NZTBA OfficeNZTBA RestructureNZTBA Te Aroha Breeders DayNZTROF March 2017OctapussyOctasongOlly TuthillOn The RocksOne One TwoOnly WordsOpulenceOur AbbadeanOWNERS FEDERATIONPaisley ParkPark Hill StablesPaul GollanPaul MoroneyPaul YesbergPencarrowPencarrow StudPentirePerfect FitPerfectly ReadyPeter and Heather CrofskeyPeter and Sue WestendPeter NewsomPeter SmithPeter WalkerPhilamorPhilip SmythPhill CataldoPiaggioPins 'N' NeedlesPiroplasmosisPlatinum InvadorPlusvitalPour MoiPRIMARY ITOPrince Of BrooklynPrincess JenniProisirProisir FoalsProm QueenPucciniPure ChampionPurple SectorQuiz NightRace Fields LegislationRaceFormRacing hall of fameRacing MinisterRacing Reform BillRageeseRaise You TenRavelston StudRaven DarkholmeRebecca DonovanRed GiantRedwoodReliable TeamRemindRichard CollettRick WilliamsRide To TimeRip Van WinkleRiva CapriRoad ShowsRobin ArcherRobt DaweRock OnRodger VarianRodmor Trust Lecture SeriesRomancerRon LaddRose of TraleeSacred DaySacred ElixirSalesSandy MooreSaracinoSaratogaSavigneSavile RowSavy yong blonkScorpzScott BaseSeabrookSeagramSean HawkinsSeason 5SeawayShadwellShane KennedyShoshoneShout the BarShoworosesSir James FletcherSky DarciSleeping BeautySophie's ChoiceSouth Island Foster FoalSpanish WhisperSpecial MemoriesSpiethSpyglass Hill SyndicateStakesStallion Coverings 2020Stallion Parades 2016Stallion Register 2018Start WonderingSteel StilettosStephen AutridgeStranglesSue and Peter WestendSummer PassageSunlineSunset PassSuper EasySupergiantSupreme HeightsSusan ArcherSusan WalkerSweet LeaderSweet TreatTaranaki Breeders' StakesTattersallsTattyboglerTaxTe ArohaTelperionThe Bold OneThe BostonianThe InformantThe KingThe Sunlight TrustThere You GoTicklishTivaci ShuttleTom LaneTommy HeptinstallTomsTrain The Trainer WorkshipTravelling LightTravimyfriendTrevor LukeTrue EnoughTurrettTutta La ClasseUberlebenUnderthemoonlightUpper CutUS Navy FlagVamos BebeVerdiVern TrilloVernanmeVicki PascoeVicki PikeVisasVolatile MixWaikato Regional Council ReportWait A SecWally O'HearnWayne DarlingWayne PikeWeanling educationWell DoneWellington BranchWertherWhat's The StoryWhite Robe Lodge HandicapWho Shot ThebarmanWilliam FellWinstarWinxWTBAXpressionXpressmymindXtravagantYogiZabeelZacintoZebrowskiZennistaZigwig
TAGS

Emotional Win For Big Mike in Hawke’s Bay Cup

There was definitely a catch in the voice of co-trainer Shaun Phelan as he described just what the victory of stable favourite Big Mike means to his family after he led all-the-way to win the Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Hastings.

The eight-year-old son of Don Eduardo has been a flag bearer for Phelan and his father Craig’s boutique training operation, having now won 12 of his 45 starts and more than $500,000 in prizemoney.

Included in that tally is a victory in the 2018 Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m), a highlight for the Phelan’s who also co-own the gelding. However, there has been plenty of heartache for all concerned in trying to get Big Mike back to his best after a somewhat disappointing spring campaign in Melbourne last year.

An eye-catching run for fifth over 1550m at Awapuni last Friday fitted Big Mike for his Hastings assignment and he didn’t disappoint with a thrilling front-running effort in the hands of apprentice Hazel Schofer.

Schofer never missed a beat as she set up a steady pace before booting clear on the home bend. Just as eventual minor placegetters Sir Nate and Yatima looked like challenging for victory, Big Mike kicked again and closed out a three and a half length win.

Surrounded by well-wishers, Phelan cut an emotional figure as he described the win.

“It’s been a long haul getting him right after Melbourne,” he said.

“It’s pretty amazing and pretty emotional to be honest.

“He’s part of the family and has taken us to places you couldn’t imagine.

“It’s just so good to see him back doing his best at the age he is now.”

Phelan had been worried that one lead-up run to the race would not be enough but was amazed how the horse thrived after that effort.

“We didn’t have many options for a lead up, so we took him to Awapuni last week to get a run into him,” he said.

“He ran a good race and the improvement in him in a week has been unreal. He’s just gone to another level in the last seven days.

“It was also a super ride by Hazel, who gets on well with our horses. He can just run those even sectionals and it took the sting out of those in behind him.

“It was also a perfect surface for him today and I think they should be commended for the track they put out for everyone.”

Phelan doesn’t have any specific plans for Big Mike although a start in the Gr.3 Rotorua Cup (2200m) is an option provided the tracks don’t get too heavy.

“The Rotorua Cup is one idea we have had,” Phelan said.

“That’s Dad’s old stomping ground, so to win that race would be very special, but it will all depend on how wet the tracks get as he isn’t any good when it is deep and heavy.” – NZ Racing Desk

Hazel Schofer drives Big Mike clear on his way to victory in the Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) Photo Credit: Race Images – Grant Matthew

Hazel Schofer drives Big Mike clear on his way to victory in the Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) Photo Credit: Race Images – Grant Matthew


 

This product has been added to your cart

CHECKOUT