Shartin N’s baby brother showed he has his share of his family’s ability when speeding to an impressive qualifying win at the Ashburton trials this past Tuesday (Nov. 19).
Knockawarwon, a son of Tintin In America out of the Live Or Die mare Bagdarin, has big shoes to fill, considering his older sister has etched her name into harness racing’s record book as the fastest mare in the history of the sport.
As a recent item by Harness Racing New Zealand explains, Knockawarwon has shown that he has the potential to make a name for himself in the industry, based off of a recent qualifying victory. The HRNZ piece states that – for what it’s worth – the three-year-old is ‘doing even better’ than what his star sister was doing at the same stage in her career.
Knockawarwon is a three-year-old that was bred and is trained by Shartin N’s breeder, Grant Crabbe, who has nothing but good things to say.
“He is a bigger horse. He is taller and he is faster (than Shartin N),” said Crabbe, who also stated that Knockawarwon “has always been able to run a half (a half-mile) around my track in a second to half a second faster than Shartin.”
Shartin N qualified in 3.05.1 for 2,400 metres from behind the mobile starter four years and four days prior to Knockawarwon qualifying in 3.03.7.
Knockawarwon showed off his speed by dashing his final quarter-mile in :26.2 on Tuesday.
The impressive display came in the horse’s first public appearance, a replay of which appears below.
“First time in a race cart, first time in a race saddle and first time on a racetrack,” Crabbe was quoted as saying.
“He is a very sensible horse, he relaxes. He is one of those ones you’re lucky to have around.
“He has got great manners and he is a stunningly-gaited horse.”
According to the HRNZ item, Knockawarwon will not be seen at the races in the coming weeks, as his breeder-trainer has opted to take a patient approach with the promising pacer.
“I am going to turn him out for six weeks, because he has only really just turned three – being a late November foal.
“I thought he is such a nice horse and he has everything right, so if I give him a nice spell now for six weeks or so, he will be right for racing around February or March.”
Knockawarwon’s name was developed from what could be considered a phonetic or mangled spelling of ‘Ngakawau,’ which is a region on the west coast of New Zealand’s south island.
Knockawarwon is partly raced by Crabbe’s daughter, Kylie, and her partner, Michael Mumm. Kylie joined the ownership of the horse after Crabbe injured his neck and could have been left unable to train Knockawarwon. Mumm’s friends and family, who are from the Ngakawau region, subsequently joined the horse’s ownership.
Prior to Knockawarwon’s qualifier last Tuesday (Nov. 19), the ownership group had received just one serious offer, which totalled over six figures. Crabbe told HRNZ said they declined that proposal and were likely to decline subsequent offers unless they were sizeable.
“The guys on the coast said they want to race him, unless the money was reasonable,” said Crabbe, who went on to add, “it is hard to get a nice horse.”
Crabbe also stated that he has not yet broken the next foal from Bagdarin, who is a yearling by A Rocknroll Dance named Done Rockn. Crabbe indicated that the horse was to be gelded last week after having displayed ‘coltish’ tendencies. “He is a roaring, very mature type of horse,” said Crabbe.
“He (Done Rockn) is a stunning horse, he is probably the pick of the family on looks.”
“He looks like he could [race] as a two-year-old.”
Bagdarin is currently in foal to Gold Ace and is due to deliver in the coming weeks. Crabbe also plans to put the mare back in foal to Gold Ace.
(With files from HRNZ)