Cluedo Lane came into Kimberley Hodgson’s care around the festive season last year, and on Wednesday at Ashburton, she hopes he can deliver an early Christmas present in the Agraforum Growing Innovation (1600m).
A five-year-old by Ghibellines, Cluedo Lane earned his maiden success at Wingatui in October, and four weeks’ later, he took a successful step-up in Rating 65 company to go back-to-back at Timaru, much to the delight of his West Melton-based trainer.
“I just loved how tough he was (at Timaru), he just kept fighting to get to the other horse and the way he won was pretty easy in the end,” Hodgson said.
“He’s just thriving at the moment, he’s in a really happy space. He’s full of himself, he’s feeling really well so we’ll see what he can do tomorrow. We’re up a grade, so we can only hope for the best.”
Originally from South Africa, Hodgson joined the racing industry in her homeland before spending time in Sydney working for multiple Group One-winning trainer Matthew Smith.
“I’m from South Africa and I’ve been riding since I was a kid, and when I was about 14, I started riding trackwork,” she said.
“From there, I went to Australia and worked for Matthew Smith, he had a couple of good horses called Hurtle Myrtle and Krupt. I was in Sydney for about five or six years, then I moved here to New Zealand, where I’ve been for over 10 years now.
“I really enjoy working with the horses.”
Cluedo Lane was co-bred by North Canterbury local and fellow trainer Michael Stokes, who entrusted the gelding alongside a number of his close relatives with Hodgson. Among these are Givealittle, who provided Hodgson with her first training success in June, and Verdian, who competed in the southern Guineas races last term for Sally McKay.
“He has been with me for a year now, he actually arrived on Christmas Eve last year,” Hodgson said.
“I have his full-sister Givealittle, who was my first winner, and I have his half-brother, Verdian. I also have a breaker who is a full-sister to Verdian, so I have a lot of the family. I’m very thankful to Michael Stokes for giving me a chance, he comes out and helps a lot.
“I do ride work for some other trainers as well, but my main focus is always my own horses.”