Wederell Much Bettor With Bling
There were a number of ‘feel good’ moments at Addington recently (9 February) when the 8yo gelding Betterwithbling (Betterthancheddar – Reincarnation) recorded his 4th win in the capable hands of young Seth Hill.
Very happy team – Seth Hill and Jessie Wederell
Jesse Wederell was recording his 10th win as a trainer after first getting his licence in 2014 and it was the 3rd win for his young driver after just getting his Junior’s licence at the beginning of this season. Of course, he is the youngest son of Swannanoa trainer Brendon Hill who himself was a highly competent Junior driver back in his day when working for Pukekohe trainer Steven Reid.
For the record, Betterwithbling has now had 54 starts for 4 wins and 17 minor placings winning back some $64k for the trainer and his Uncle Tony (who did stints with top trainers in Richard Brosnan and Derek Jones).
“He is a very honest horse, lacking in a bit of top end speed but he is tough. Some might not notice but he also has had 12 4th placings. That means he has run in the top four on 33 of his 54 starts,” Wederell proudly shared.
That he is a genuine racehorse is not surprising when one scrolls down his pedigree page. His dam Reincarnation (Holmes Hanover) is a full sister to cup class mare Kliklite (12 wins + $156k) who in turn left the top 2 & 3yo of her year in Top Tempo (11 wins + $240k) when trained by Graeme Rogerson. In Australia Top Tempo has been an absolute sensation as a broodmare leaving 10 winners from 10 foals of racing age, 5 of them $100k+ earners with Speak No Evil (16 wins + $354k + 1:50MR) arguably the best of them.
Daughters of Top Tempo are now breeding on and the family is highly sought after in Australia.
Another half sister in Philosophy (Bo Scots Blue Chip) left the very good young pacer in The Court Owl who won close to $500k when trained by Mark Purdon.
Jesse with uncle Tony, breeder and co-owner of Betterwithbling
For the South Canterbury born and raised Wederell, his recall suggested that horses had been part of his family from day one.
“My grandfather (Fred Wederell) owned Cardinal King and my mother later married Timaru horseman David Johnston, whose breed usually got named ‘Here Comes…..’,” he explained.
For those who can remember, Cardinal King was a top performer in the 60s, won 10 races here in NZ and reached open class, racing the likes of Lordship, Waitaki Hanover, Humphrey and Great Adios before going on to a stellar career in America where he defeated the one and only Cardigan Bay in the Yonkers International Pace.
Wederell’s first winner was Garibaldi (Sands A Flyin) at Rangiora in 2014. He had purchased it and another Sands A Flyin yearling called Phil Monty after they had been advertised by Cavalla Bloodstock in the ‘marketplace’ of the now defunct Harness Racing weekly.
“I got them up and going and then Victorian horseman Lance Justice bought them both off me at the same time and they went on to do a very good job in Australia.”
A butcher by trade, Wederell’s day begins early around 3am but by lunchtime he is then free to work his horses. He currently has a team of four and rents boxes and day paddocks from fellow West Melton trainer Peter Yeatman.
Apart from his later winner, he has an unnamed 2yo filly by Art Major, gifted to him after curbing a hock, Neverhavtime (3g Art Major) and All Together Now (6g Auckland Reactor), the latter 2 in partnership with his ‘real life’ partner Eddie Collins who works for Aylesbury trainer Stephen Boyd.
As for Betterwithbling, he will keep racing and the trainer is sure he will try and retain the services of young Hill.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Seth. He is a top young man and gets on really well with the horse,” he said.
There has been past interest in the son of Betterthancheddar but with Uncle Tony now retired, it would be hard to replace the much-loved gelding according to his genial trainer and so connections will just push on at this stage.
