Training partnership a ‘full circle moment’ for Balle
Garrick Knight - Raceform • June 19th, 2025 3:00 PM • 4 min read
Eagle-eyed punters might have noticed a slight change in form guides last week, when a new training partnership was formed.
And while it was a forgettable first night at the office for Neita Balle as a co-trainer with her father Derek, she’s confident that will turn around quickly this week.
“We’ll forget last week happened,” joked Balle, referring to their first runner Rewiri Hill galloping off the mobile and taking no part at Cambridge.
Derek is currently on an extended overseas holiday and Neita has been thrown straight in to the deep end at their Pukekohe base.
“I’ve got my name down in the book now, but I don’t really think too much has changed, apart from doing more liaising with owners.”
The shift to trainer caps a changeable 12 months for Balle, who admits that a year ago, she was struggling to keep her passion for the game when working in Cambridge.
“A year ago, I was ready to leave the industry and signed up to an interior design course. I was at my wits’ end, to be honest, so to now be training in partnership with Dad is me sort of coming full circle.”
Balle grew up in Pukekohe right next to the harness racing centre and has always helped her father from a young age.
“I always wanted to follow in Dad’s footsteps and become a trainer and driver. Eventually it got to the point that I loved it, but I hated it and something needed to change.”
Her partner, Zev Meredith, was keen to return to Pukekohe and turn his hand to training and that allowed Balle to continue her study and return to the family stable.
“And then about three months ago, I kind of joked to Dad about going into partnership and he said, ‘Whenever you want.’ I thought we were just loading yarns, and then about three weeks ago I walked into the stables and he asked if I wanted to start on the paperwork. I had to go inside and ask Mum if he was being serious!”
Balle takes four runners to the races this week – three at Cambridge on Thursday night, followed by relative newcomer Westar Milly, who has her second start for the stable at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
She came up from the Hope stable in Canterbury and made a winning debut in new colours at Cambridge on June 5 – her first start for more than a year.
“Dad did all the work with her before he left, and he kept it under wraps how good she was working. The clue was that he wouldn’t let anyone else work her; that’s usually a sign that he likes them.”
Westar Milly steps up in grade sharply to take on a $17,000 Hydroflow Metro Trotters Series Heat this week with a view to an upcoming $34,000 Final. Zachary Butcher sticks with the daughter of Love You.
“She’s a fiery mare and we’ve been working hard on trying to settle her down. But the way she won at Cambridge and with how she’s worked since, I’m pretty confident that she can win again this week.”
Rewiri Hill will be looking for a return to form in the last on the card for Butcher and Balle hopes a return to the standing start will aid that.
“He’s been back out on the beach recently and is trotting a lot better. He’s a good winning chance. It’s hard to split he and Westar Milly as our best of the week.”
