By Sue Newman  December 26 2009

With seven wins from just 10 starts, the Simon Adlam trained Second Wind is hot favourite, heading in to the main race at today’s Ashburton Trotting Club Boxing Day meeting.

The four-year-old gelding has only been back in racing since September, and in that time has left his age group peers eating his dust as he’s put money in punters’ pockets and given his owners a series of good pay days.

 Second Wind made his first start at Ashburton’s Boxing Day meeting last year, coming home fifth, but he was turned out shortly after.

 “He was a bit weak, not quite ready, but I brought him back in, in April and he was a different horse,” Adlam said.

 The new Second Wind was on a roll, winning with his first start for the season at Methven in September and continuing that form to take the cash at Timaru, Rangiora and NZ Metro meetings.

 He comes into the Robbies Bar and Bistro Ashburton Cup as hot favourite today.

 His formline over his last six starts is impressive – 133111.

 Adlam has a genuine affection for the gelding, which has strong ties to the family – bred and part owned by brother Greg.

 His name has ties to his owner’s penchant for holidaying in Maui, Hawaii.

 He owes it to a surf and sail shop, Second Wind, that his owners like so much they’ve named a horse, a bach, a boat and a home after it.

 Today, with Ricky May driving, the combination might be hard to beat on their home track.

 While Second Wind is running hot, Adlam is coy when it comes to any suggestions he might have a NZ Trotting Cup contender in training.

 He’s taking a team to Blenheim in mid January, and if the horse takes line honours in the main race there, then the odds that he could inch into cup class will dramatically improve, he said.

 Adlam also has a youngster racing today, with three-year-old Itz Prahda Dahling in the fillies and mares, 1-2 wins, race 9.

 She won first start at Geraldine in November and finished 7th at Methven earlier this month.

 Harness racing fans will have plenty of opportunities today to watch some of New Zealand’s top drivers and plenty of highly rated horses in action on the lightning-fast Ashburton track.

 With a large number of local trainers with horses running it will also be a good opportunity to take a punt on runners with home track advantage.

Pictured: Trainer Simon Adlam with his hopes for today’s Ashburton Trotting Club’s Boxing Day meeting, likely favourite in the Robbies Bar and Bistro Ashburton Cup, Second Wind. - Photo Kirsty Graham 231209-KG-008