Gypsy Vance seeking star status

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 45

Gypsy Vance seeking star status

By

JEFF SCOTT

Gypsy Vance, a $6OO reject as a yearling, could prove yet another of racing’s bargains to elevate to star status in next Tuesday’s $400,000 D.B. Draught New Zealand Cup at Addington Raceway. One of three representatives by the champion sire, Vance Hanover, in next week’s race, Gypsy Vance, or Gyppo as he is known by those closely associated with him, has each-way claims after drawing the ace.

“I’m pleased with his draw. He is a good beginner and I gave him a bit of practice the other day and he ran 400 m from a stand in 30 seconds. I then pulled him up and started again and he ran 31 for his opening quarter the second time,” said Pukekohe trainer Bernie Hackett. “I would like to think he would end up three back on the inner during the race and the harder they go in front the better he’ll like it,” added Hackett.

Gypsy Vance, which never worked clear in last season’s Easter Cup at Addinggton in his only previous start on the course, graduated to Cup class in last year’s $65,000 Franklin Cup, pacing the 3200 m in a respectable 4:06.4. Gaelic Skipper and Elmer Gantry chased him home on that occasion, with Kylie’s Hero the beaten favourite when fifth.

The six-year-old has raced over 3200 m seven times for the useful record of two wins and three placings, while his career record stands at 59 starts for 12 wins, 18 placings and $152,185 in stakes.

Gypsy Vance, from the same family as the 1947 Auckland Cup and 1949 Inter-Dominion Grand Final winner, Single Direct, changed hands twice in the one day at Dave Jessop’s annual bloodstock sale five years ago.

“My father, Mick, had bought another horse from the first crop by Native Master. He also had his hand up when Gypsy Vance was knocked down to him for $600,” said Bernie Hackett yesterday.

“After the sale Chris Morley said he had arrived too late to buy a Vance Hanover and dad informed him he had ended up with one.” Mr Hackett, sen., decided to retain his Native Master purchase

and re-sold Gypsy Vance to Mr Morley and Jack Johnston for his purchase price — and you guessed it, the Native Master yearling turned out to be “no bloody good,” according to Hackett, jun. “But I was lucky dad sold Gypsy Vance when he did. The owners have turned down real good money for him and they would never sell him now, whereas dad would have let him go and I wouldn’t have him now,” he said.

Gypsy Vance was being trained for a short time by Johnston when Bernie Hackett went up to drive him at a trial meeting.

“He went real rough and used to rip and tear. The stipendiary steward

told Jack to either shoot him or give him to Bernie and I’ve had him ever since,” said Hackett.

After Gypsy Vance qualified, Johnston gave Mr Morley 48 hours to find someone to buy his share before he offered it to a waiting buyer. In this time, a group of four Kaikohe (Northland) farmers pitched in to form the A. and M. Trotting Syndicate with Mr Morley.

“He is their first racehorse and has some ready-made retirement paddocks on their farms. There will always be a home up there for him when he’s finished racing,” said Hackett. Gypsy Vance, which wore a short 54-inch hopple when he qualified and used to pace roughly

on that length, now wears a 60-inch hopple and is “just a dream to drive.” The upstanding gelding is considered a “real gentleman and a pleasure to do anything with now,” according to Hackett. “I don’t train him — he trains me,” said the former steel mill worker. Raised in Dargaville, Hackett used to help out the Waiuku trainer, Butt Hair, between working at the steel mill. Hackett gave up his first employment after five years to work for the man who originally stood Vance Hanover at stud, Dave Jessop, and branched out on his own account three seasons ago. He now trains from a barn leased to him by the Manukau Trotting Club at Pukekohe. The good trotters, Zebec and Peddler, have been other smart performers through his stable to date and he has five training .wins on the board this season from 29 starters. “Gypsy Vance isn’t one of them yet, but I hope he is after Tuesday,” quipped Hackett. “His form is pretty good, but he hasn’t had the runs to suit him lately,” is the warning he sounds to swining punters. Gypsy Vance, which “buzzed” his last quarter in 26 seconds and his last 800 m in 57 to win at the Pukekohe trials last Sunday, has been “eating up everything” since he arrived at Anthony and Tim Butt’s Templeton property later that same day. Hackett plumps for Luxury Liner as the hardest to beat on Tuesday, while he also has much respect for Peter Blanchard’s pair, Kylie’s Hero and Bold Sharvid.