Paul Harris happy to be back in action at Oamaru
IT has been five years since southern trainer Paul Harris has saddled up a runner in New Zealand, but that all changes on Friday when he lines up Sunset Girl at Oamaru.
The talented horseman lost his training license in February, 2013, but after a move to Australia where he enjoyed good success, Harris is back in New Zealand and ready for another go.
Harris was the foreman for Darryl Hansen and also Peter Moody before returning to New Zealand where he currently still runs a pre-training and rehabilitation service.
“It’s been a long five years, but it’s been enjoyable since I’ve been away and I’m enjoying it even more now,” Harris told Horsebetting.com.au. “We spent over three years in Australia as a family and I worked for a couple of really good trainers.”
Harris was a part of the Hansen training team in Caloundra which won the 2015 Magic Millions before getting the opportunity to work in the Moody stables before he quit in 2016.
“I worked for Darryl Hansen and in that time we won the Magic Millions with Le Chef as a two-year-old, that was amazing,” Harris said. “After that I had the opportunity to be foreman for Peter Moody so I jumped at that chance.”
Harris has been pleasantly surprised by the amount of support he has received since taking out his ‘B’ training license.
“There’s been heaps and heaps of support. It’s been very humbling the support I’ve had,” he said. “It’s come from old clients, new clients and also first time horse owners which is nice.
“I’ve only got a ‘B’ license, but that’s where we wanted to start – at the ground roots.”
Harris is training in partnership with Kenny Moore, who is better known in the harness industry, after a chance meeting brought the two into partnership
“Kenny has been racing all his life. Most of his success has been with the standardbreds, but I’ve known him for a long time and we had a chance meeting and it happened from there,” Harris explained.
“We flew to Wellington together to get the license and set up a system where by he does all the business side of things and leaves me to do what I do best with the horses.
“He has daily input with the horses, it’s not just me. He’s a great horseman and a genuinely good bloke.”
Harris has only a small team in work currently, but he’s excited about a couple of up-and-coming runners in the stable.
“We have six in work that are ready to race over the next few weeks,” Harris said. “There’s a couple in the stable that can take another step, but at this stage we’re just planning on placing the horses where they’ll be competitive.”
Harris made mention of the interestingly-named Smokin’ Pumpkin, which he believes has a bright future despite the name.
“We have a really nice filly we think a lot of. She’s had a trial win and placing and does show above average ability,” Harris said. “She’s called Smokin’ Pumpkin.
“The owners are first time clients of mine – he calls her Pumpkin and she calls him Smokey, so they said Smokin Pumpkin.
“If it wins a black type or group race that will be a great name.”
Harris is looking to line up the daughter of Guillotine in either another trial or take it straight to the races next week.
“She’s still immature in the brain. If we can get her brain right she could go to another level,” Harris said. “She’ll either trial next week or go straight to Ashburton for the three-year-old.”
Harris kicks off his rejuvenated training career when Sunset Girl lines up in the Northstar Restaurant and Bar Maiden at 10:17am on Friday.
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