11 starts, 4 wins $13,277 stake money to date
Racing Name and Breeding: "Diamond Smile" 2006 4 B g Grinfromeartoear - Tabella Bindy
Stable
Name:
"Ernie"
Owner(s): A W Messenger, Mrs L J Messenger, A M Megaw
Breeder(s): M W Neill, Mrs S M Neill, Mrs B Stanton
"Ernie The Fastest Milk Cart in the West"
When Ernie arrived at the stable he took a bit of work to get gaited in the first instance, and while he has developed into the horse that he is, there were no early signs of this so he was nicknamed "Ernie, the slowest milk cart in the west". How wrong that is now. As at 9 March 2011 he has won four of his 11 starts and all his wins have come in this summer season.
Alan and Lyn Messenger got into Harness Racing and involved with White Star Stables when they approached Nicky at New Plymouth on a race day there. They had never met Nicky but had been impressed by the way she produced horses both trained and driven. They told her they were interested in becoming involved and wished to purchase a yearling from the sales. Their first venture was when they bought "Devine Temptation". Trained throughout his career by Nicky, he had 50 starts and won six races, ran 2nd seven times and had five 3rds mostly on the grass circuit.
They went back to the sales and bought a filly "Attsa Nice". She was small but determined and she also won seven races from 59 starts. Once she finished her race career Alan and Lyn decided to breed from her. They currently have a Bettors Delight filly being broken in, another Bettors Delight foal and the mare is in foal to American Ideal.
The Messenger's were hooked!
Diamond Smile is raced by Alan and Lyn Messenger of Inglewood and Anne Megaw. His first win was on a wet day at Wanganui on the grass on 19 December 2010. The above photo shows "Ernie" returning to the winners circle to join his jubilant owners for their photos.
The next start was at Waipa on 29 December 2011. Two in a row! The photo at right shows him winning at Te Awamutu Race Course.
Ernie was beginning to hit his straps.
He placed 4th on the grass at Tauranga for the Bay of Plenty HRC on 30 January 2011.
However, a memorable win was at the annual meeting at Stratford when he won, as his owners live just up the road at Inglewood. Ernie was now getting used to this "winning lark" and he got a bit naughty when having his photo taken in the birdcage as can be seen in the picture left.
He continued on his winning way at the Franklin HRC meeting held at Pukekohe Racecourse during Auckland Cup Week on Tuesday 8 March 2011.
While Erne does not have the best gait he certainly gets the job done. In fact during the past few months he has had a couple of gallops which have cost him races. He tends to "skip" a bit when he gets to the front and is out on his own. But when he gets another horse on his outside, he puts the hard work in and his pacing settles down and he gets determined to do the right thing.
His owners certainly hope he continues to do the right thing and improve even further. After all he has had only 11 starts in his career and has already notched up 4 wins.
Diamond Smile winning at Stratford 13 February 2011
