HESA Buzzin is providing his owner Brian Tuddenham with something he never thought he would have – an opportunity to win a second Ballarat Pacing Cup.
Tuddenham lived a dream five years ago when Sting Lika Bee took out his hometown cup.
Sting Lika Bee had been a luckless fifth the previous year.
Second time round in 2007, though, everything fell into place for Tuddenham as owner-trainer as Sting Lika Bee held out Flashing Red by a half neck to claim the group 1 event.
A leg injury meant Sting Lika Bee would be denied another start in the race.
Tuddenham was convinced that would be it as far as seeing his colours going around in the cup.
Not that he was complaining.
Sting Lika Bee had become only the second Ballarat-trained winner of the event.
Robin Hood, trained by Peter Tonkin, had opened the hometown account in 2006.
Then Safari, from the Emma Stewart stable, made it three on end in 2008.
Just as he did twice with Sting Lika Bee, Tuddenham will again be in the grandstand at Bray Raceway on Saturday night cheering on Hesa Buzzin in the $125,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup, 2170m.
Tuddenham said getting the full brother of Sting Lika Bee into the race could not have been further from his mind 18 months ago when he sent Hesa Buzzin to New South Wales trainer Ian Wilson.
The gelding was an M2 pacer and had earned $84,000 in 54 starts.
He was a handy metropolitan class pacer, but a long way short of grand circuit quality.
Tuddenham said Hesa Buzzin had not won in more than 12 months at the time.
“I had to see if anyone else could get more out of him,” he said.
Tuddenham had sent other horses to NSW with mixed success.
Blue Chip Hanover won four races before going to the United States. Sting Lika Bee won once in a short stay, but never fully settled.
There has been no looking back for Hesa Buzzin.
“He’s thrived,” Tuddenham said. He believes working with other horses, something he was not able to do at Haddon, has been the key to the improvement.
The 10-year-old has emulated his older brother by becoming an Australasian Grand Circuit campaigner.
He has taken his record to 21 wins and $277,000 in stakes.
Hesa Buzzin has not just won a string of races, he has become a regular in grand circuit events, is a multiple group winner and has placed three times in group 1 company.
He has finished third in the past two Queensland Pacing Championships and the Treuer Memorial at Bankstown.
Hesa Buzzin will never live up to the deeds of Sting Lika Bee, but this is not stopping Tuddenham enjoying the ride.
Naturally, Tuddenham dares to dream, as everyone with a horse in the Ballarat Pacing Cup should,
He is also realistic enough to know facing champion Smoken Up and boom four-year-old Sushi Sushi is as daunting as any assignment in harness racing.
Tuddenham says Hesa Buzzin will need luck, something he did not have when fifith in the Shepparton Gold Cup on Saturday night, from his wide front row draw to be in the finish.
“That’s the way he’ll have to be driven.
“Hopefully he’ll run well.”
Tuddenham said Hesa Buzzin’s main target this campaign had been the AG Hunter Cup – coincidentally won by Sting Lika Bee in a 2007. He said hopefully he runs well enough to secure a run there.
BALLARAT PACING CUP MARKET (TABsportsbet fixed odds): 2.00 Smoken Up, 2.90 Sushi Sushi, 9.00 The Gold Ace, 9.00 Villagem, 12.00 Melpark Major, 16.00 Heza Trick, 19.00 Pembrook Benny, 51.00 Highview Tommy, 61.00 Decorated Jasper, 101 Our Malabar, 101 Hesa Buzzin, 126 Amadmancomesundone (emerg), 151 Captain Joy
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