Positive reports on talented Wallen’s comeback
Paul Vettise • July 30th, 2025 2:48 PM • 3 min read
Promising galloper Wallen is making good progress toward a return to racing following an untimely setback.
The rising six-year-old son of Tarzino made a strong start to his career with a brace of wins and five placings from eight appearances before he was sidelined by a suspensory injury.
Wallen’s highlight performance was his victory in the inaugural running of last year’s $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa.
The gelding is prepared at Cambridge by Shane Crawford, who with partner Kara Waters are also leading Ready to Run Sale vendors and operate a specialist breaking in business under their Regal Farm banner.
Wallen went amiss after trialling last spring but has responded positively during his lengthy road to recovery.
“He got injured toward the end of last year and that’s why he’s been gone for quite some time,” Waters said.
“He has been rehabilitated and has been on the treadmill at Alex Oliveira’s Kaipira Lodge.
“The vets say he will be as good as gold and should be returning to our stable any time soon, we’re looking forward to having him back.”
Wallen is raced by breeder and Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvey, who will also be represented by Interlaken in Saturday’s Aotea Electric Bream Bay Sprint (1300m) at Ruakākā.
The son of Swiss Ace overcame a testing track at Avondale to win at the first time of asking earlier this month.
“He is still a green and immature horse, it was heavy the other day and I don’t think he needs it that heavy and will keep improving,” Waters said.
“He has taken time to develop, and if you tell Russell (Warwick) a horse needs time, he’s happy to put them out and bring them back when they’re ready.
“It’s a bonus to train for Westbury, they look after their horses.”
Interlaken will be accompanied north by the lightly tried Sweynesse gelding Jamaican Boy, a maiden winner over ground at Woodville three runs back who runs in the A1 Homes Bream Bay Stayers (2100m).
“He hasn’t had a lot of racing and is a big horse who has taken a long time to mature and he’ll win a few more,” Waters said.
The partners are also busy with an ever-growing presence for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale later this year.
“We were going to do a small draft, but it’s getting bigger and bigger by the day, and we’ll have some quality horses to offer again,” Waters said.
A successful association with the Hong Kong-based Willie Leung, of Magus Equine, also continues to grow.
“We’ve got heaps for him and the majority will probably be heading for Hong Kong, he’s got some really nice horses,” Waters said.
“We trial them and give them the time they need with the aim of them going up to Hong Kong, they are mostly horses bought from the Ready to Run Sale.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
