Harvey has never deviated from his desire to become a trainer and strong family support combined with overseas experience has enabled him to realise his long-held ambition.
The 31-year-old son of well-known and respected bloodstock identities Bruce and Maureen Harvey, of Ascot Farm, received his licence last year and was on the board recently with his first winner.
It was made even more special with his parents racing Bounty (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who was successful at Taupo in his third appearance.
“It was pretty satisfying and one of my best mates in Andrew Calder rode him and gave him a perfect ride,” Harvey said. “Mum and Dad have obviously been big influences on me so it was very special.
“He is one we didn’t pay a lot of money for when we got him off Gavelhouse.com. We had him sold to Hong Kong for good money, but then it fell through. It is a real staying family, with the dam a half-sister to Prized Gem.”
Bounty (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
Prized Gem (NZ) (Prized {USA}) won the G1 Brisbane Cup and the G1 Kelt Capital S. and was equally successful at stud producing the G1 Australian Derby winner and sire Nom Du Jeu (NZ) and the G2 Counties Cup winner Jeu Du Cartes (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
For Harvey, Bounty’s win has been years in the making with his desire to become a trainer fuelled by another family connection.
“When I was 5-years-old my grandparents' horse Roysyn won the G1 New Zealand Derby and from that day onwards I said I was going to be a trainer. That’s all I ever wanted to do,” he said.
“When I was 5-years-old my grandparents' horse Roysyn won the G1 New Zealand Derby and from that day onwards I said I was going to be a trainer.” – Glen Harvey
Following the completion of his education, Harvey set about gaining the experience to achieve his goal.
“When I left school I worked at Pencarrow Stud doing the weanlings and then I got offered a job to go and work at Woodlands Stud. I looked after Commands, Lonhro and Octagonal,” he said.
“They were the three boys I was lucky enough to be looking after. Octagonal was God and when Roysyn was racing in Australia, Octagonal was winning the Derby and everything else.
“I stayed there for a season and during that time EI hit and Woodlands was bought by Darley at the end of that year so I decided to come home.”
Bruce Harvey
Harvey worked alongside his parents at Ascot Farm and enjoyed trips to Hong Kong with Bruce and Maureen, who for many years have prepared the Southern Hemisphere yearlings for the Hong Kong Jockey Club-managed sale.
He also enjoyed a two-year stint at Little Avondale Stud before returning home and expanding his knowledge in a different role.
“I was involved with the bloodstock side of things and had a bit of luck and worked a fair bit with Paul Moroney,” Harvey said.
Singapore stint
A further family connection then had him taking on a two-year stint as Assistant Trainer to Kah Soon Tan.
“Mum and Dad had horses for Teh Choon Beng and Dr Tan, Soon’s father, was his Assistant and later took over the stables. Dad gave Soon a reference when he wanted to start training and we’ve always kept in touch.
“That was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life, to be honest, to go up there and get more involved in the racing side.
“Mum and Dad have been great and Kah Soon gave me an awesome opportunity and that was life-changing. I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for them.
“I then came home to be closer to the family and I thought I was finally ready to have a go at training. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do and it was the right time. I’ve had a lot of support.”
Harvey is based at Mystery Creek having bought the Waikato property formerly owned by Olympic equestrian rider Jeff McVean, who trained Leica Guv (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}) to win the 2001 G1 New Zealand Derby.
“We’ve just put in a new nine-horse walker and there are boxes, a sand arena and yards. It’s 10 acres and a lovely property,” Harvey said.
“I’ve got 18 horses here at my place and six out spelling and some of Mum and Dads out pre-training so I’ve got close to 30 horses on the books at the moment. It’s head down and bum up and I’m very serious and passionate about it.”
Harvey has also set himself a short-term goal this year of a representative in New Zealand’s richest 2-year-old event.
“I bought eight at the yearling sales and the big goal is to have at least one runner in the Karaka Million,” he said.
“I bought eight at the yearling sales and the big goal is to have at least one runner in the Karaka Million.” – Glen Harvey
“I’ve got some nice fillies and two of them have already showed they are above average. There’s a Sweynesse filly called Brix and a Sacred Falls filly out of Miss Elusive. I paid NZ$45,000 for the Sweynesse and NZ$20,000 for the Sacred Falls.”
Both fillies continued their progress with recent successes at the Te Teko trials.
Harvey said he was hugely grateful for the support he has received, both from new owners drawn to the stable through the syndication of young horses and from within the industry, both on the home and away fronts.
“It’s been quite overwhelming really and I’ve had people from Singapore congratulating me on the first winner. People like my old boss Kah Soon Tan, Shane Baertshiger, Donna Logan and Michael Rodd was straight on the phone.
“Trudy Thornton comes and rides trackwork every day, Chelsea Burdan comes over once a week and they have done a lot of work with the horses and Andrew (Calder). I’m really appreciative and it’s a big team effort.”
