Sunshine moment for Horton

Bruce Stewart Contributor

Makarewa trainer Michele Horton had her day in the sun today when Sunshine Moment (Sunshine Beach) won at the Wyndham Harness Racing meeting at Cromwell.

In the hands of Wyndham horseman Craig Ferguson the four year old mare led all the way to beat Kensi (Sweet Lou) by a length.

“She hasn’t got a sprint and is pretty tough more than anything, so getting in front on the grass is her ideal run,” Horton said.

Although Michele trains her horses at her Makarewa base she also works for Ferguson.

“I work for him five days a week. When he had his one hundredth winner the other day he reckoned I’d been with him for ninety of those, so I’ve been with him for over five years now.”

The win was Horton’s third in the twelve years she’s held a trainer’s licence. Her only winner has been Bettors Atom which won at Forbury Park in June 2019 and the Waikouaiti meeting at Oamaru in February 2022.

Horton purchased Sunshine Moment from the Gavelhouse Website. She has previously trained by Matthew White at Cambridge.

“I bought her before winter. I need them to be quiet, so Mark (Hurrell) rang Matthew for me and he said she was quiet with a lovely nature.  I turned her out over the winter and then worked her up.”

Horton commenced her harness racing career in the mid 1980s with Drummond trainer Graham Bond for whom she worked for six months before heading to the Edendale stable of Bud Baynes.

“Godfrey was born at Bud’s while I was there and he won a couple of non-tote races before he headed to Purdons. Clever Dillon was another horse that was there when I was there.”

Recently Michele has been involved in Southland Kidz Kartz and her daughter Jess is an instructor for the group.

Horton said Sunshine Moment will race on the second day of the meeting on Sunday.