Deb’s Mate retired

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 30

Deb’s Mate retired

PA Auckland Deb's Mate, almost invincible at peak on rainaffected tracks, has been retired from racing. His owners, Errol and Shirley Stockwell, of Pukekohe, made the decision after a further belowpar performance from the horse in the Schweppes New Zealand Handicap at Avondale on Saturday. Deb’s Mate, which the Stockwells bought for $2500 as a two-year-old, was trained by Harvey Wadham

at Pukekohe and was soon returning dividends. In all he earned $268,000 from 21 wins and a similar number of minor placings. The Stockwells bought Deb’s Mate to provide their aspiring jockey daughter Debbie (now Debbie Healey) with a work horse. At the time she was apprenticed to Wadham. She was not licensed when Deb’s Mate made his debut — six years ago almost to the day — and in his first three starts, each of

which he won. the horse was ridden by Bob Vance. Healey rode him in all his other starts. Among his wins were three A.R.C. Cornwall Handicaps, one with 61kg, seven weight-for-age races and two Australian cup races, the Moe and Geelong Cups. His last success was in the Ormond Memorial at Hastings in September. Deb’s Mate is to be given to a Pukekohe show rider. Samantha Winn.