The champion race mare Verry Elleegant began her illustrious race career at the beachside racecourse in Northland and went on to be dominant at Randwick winning six of her sixteen victories there.
Kingmakers syndicate’s Mach Schnell also started his race career at Ruakaka and went on to taste multiple success at Randwick for his 10 lucky owners. Purchased by Kingmakers founder Leighton Howl from Book 1 at Karaka for $80,000 the son of Zacinto and the Volksraad mare Anya had a checkered early career. He was sacked by two trainers before Covid 19 put paid to any possible racing opportunities as a three-year-old, but Howl had a plan and confidence in the horse’s pedigree and ability and was proven to be right.
As a four-year-old Howl placed Mach Schnell with Byerley Park trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy with the plan to win a couple of races and then send him to Sydney to race.
Rex Pearce a long-term racing enthusiast and successful owner decided to take a 10% share in the aging horse.
“Leighton put a plan together as to why it was worth persevering with a four-year-old that had been sacked by two trainers,” Pearce recalled.
“I was impressed with Leighton’s confidence and plan for the horse. In the beginning Mach Schnell had a lot of trouble getting to the races let alone going on to winning six and over $400,000 in stakes and in Sydney.
“He raced here and did reasonably well, kicked a few goals and more than paid his way.”
As a autumn four-year-old Mach Schnell debuted at Ruakaka with a second placing over 1200 metres, he had a further five starts for the season and didn’t finish further back than sixth in any of them.
As a five-year-old he won fresh up in October over 1400 metres and by the end of February he had raced six times for two wins a second and three thirds, before a decision was made to send him to Sydney trainer Joe Pride. With a rating of 76, Howl felt that was the perfect benchmark to start off in Sydney as it enabled the horse to have a few winning opportunities at mid-week level before moving to the very competitive Saturday class.
Transferring horses from New Zealand to Sydney to race is not for the faint-hearted, it’s not easy, and at the time it was not a regular occurrence for New Zealand trained horses. Howl put together a plan he felt was needed to successfully compete in Sydney. As well he had great relationships on the ground in Sydney with Joe Pride.
“I knew he wouldn’t be sending the horse if he hadn’t thought it would be profitable,” Pearce said.
“Leighton does so much research and his ideas are well founded.
“At that time New Zealand racing was at a low ebb, it was a thrill racing something in Australia. It was great meeting Joe Pride and understanding the Aussie racing scene and going to watch the horse win.”
By mid-April Mach Schnell was back at the track and opened his Australian account with a fourth placing followed closely by a win at Randwick, by the end of his five-year-old season he had added another win. As a six-year-old he won at Randwick and Rosehill over 1800 metres and ran two seconds at Randwick over that distance, before returning to New Zealand with an extra $400,000 stakes for the owners. where a recurring knee injury initiated his retirement.
Pearce has been in other syndicates with well-known syndicators and feels Leighton Howl does it way better.
“I have total confidence in Howl and the new Kingmakers venture, his ethics and knowledge and enthusiasm, he’s a reliable guy who does his best for the owners he attracts. He’s great with finding unique horses, is very competitive and with the financials delivers the stakes to the shareholders very promptly.
“I couldn’t ask for anyone better in the industry to look after my investment.”
