Cover image courtesy of Nicole Troost
Anna Furlong would be the first to admit that she may have struggled to see herself in her current position as a young girl. She was a town girl, and her family had no real interest in horses, but Furlong somehow caught the horse bug, and has not looked back since.
“My first real interest in the game was actually through Shane’s uncle, Russell Kennedy, who worked for Kypros Kotzikas (Prominent harness owner) and he said that Shane was looking for someone, so that’s how it started just after school.
“Before that, I used to have riding lessons at Max Skelton’s riding school, and that really sparked an interest. He was the first one to put me on one with a track saddle on a retired horse, and I loved it.
“I have put in a lot of hard work, but I have also been fortunate with everything Shane’s taught me, and building all of the contacts, it’s been a journey.”
Talking about Shane Kennedy and Champagne Racing, Furlong described the start of that relationship as a ‘useful way to learn the ropes.’
Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong | Image courtesy of Champagne Racing
“I then did two years at the Canterbury Equine Clinic and went on to do my vet nursing qualification, but I was always keen on the stables. In 2012, Shane offered to train with me in partnership and I went that way. We had a very successful partnership up until the end of last season.”
“Shane has been like family to me, from day one. Him, Sandy and the kids have been a big part of my life.
“I have always had a really good relationship with him.”
“Shane was always very good at picking and selecting horses at the sales, which he still loves attending and he helps me with. Another thing he was very good at was that he placed horses very well, which is a huge thing.”
“Shane (Kennedy) was always very good at picking and selecting horses at the sales, which he still loves attending and he helps me with. Another thing he was very good at was that he placed horses very well, which is a huge thing.” - Anna Furlong
Furlong explained that Kennedy still plays a big part in Champagne Racing, “He’s got shares in a lot of horses, and almost loves it now more than he has ever before, as he had a lot of business work that he was also juggling when training.
“It’s special for me to still have him wanting to be so involved.”
“I talk to him every race day or race morning, talk to him after the races and have a good old yarn and catch-up. He’s a great sounding board with so much experience, and as I am learning all the time it’s always very nice to get his feedback.”
Saturday’s impressive treble
Saturday’s meeting at Riccarton delivered a memorable treble for the Anna Furlong stable. While it wasn’t their first - that milestone came at Oamaru last August, this was the one that meant the most to the young trainer. It came on a Saturday, at her home track, and included her first stakes success under her sole name.
“It was a very exciting, great day for the stable.”
“It was very exciting, especially for the mare, she really deserved that one, she’s been knocking on the door and we knew she had a good one in her, so I was thrilled for all of her connections.”
The mare in question is Betty Spaghetti (Stratum Star), who was purchased by fellow South Island trainer Robert Dennis from the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale for $20,000, from the draft of Beaufort Downs.
Prior to Saturday, she had won five races and had been Listed-placed as a 3-year-old filly but was yet to taste stakes success, until she claimed the Listed Great Easter Stakes narrowly over Tumuch (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) and the Robert Dennis-trained The Radiant One (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
“He’s (Robert Dennis) been wonderful to me, trusting us with a lot of his good horses when he was off the scene, and then up north, but for him to keep the horses with me I will forever be thankful.
“There is a lot of respect between us and a good partnership. His runner ran third, but he was pretty pumped that Betty got over the line.”
The first winner of the day for the stable was Canasta (NZ) (Ace High), a 3-year-old filly who broke her maiden at start number four in the hands of Billy Jacobson, who was also aboard Betty Spaghetti later in the day.
“I may get her (Canasta) over ground, we may plan a little trip away with her, we will see.”
The third winner for the day was Penvose Lad (U S Navy Flag {USA}), a 4-year-old gelding that is a half-brother to star 2-year-old filly Velocious (Written Tycoon), he picked up his third win from only eight starts.
Furlong mentioned, “He was very impressive, he’s a good story, he was an early 2-year-old, and a bit of a comeback story really, and spent a bit of time on the sideline.
“The Mullallys and the Duncans have shown a lot of time and patience towards this one and they have been rewarded.”
When asked if there was a particular injury issue, Furlong explained, “A range of factors, we decided to put him out at the Duncans’ farm, and it’s been the best thing for him.
“Winning the last race on the day was phenomenal, to be honest, all three of them were big efforts also, big searching runs. All accolades have to go to the staff, they put in all the work and love the horses to bits.”
Going solo: What a start to the first season as head trainer
It has been an outstanding first year for Anna Furlong, training under her own name in solitary fashion this season.
She currently sits 12th on the New Zealand Premiership ladder with $763,905 in prizemoney, 29 winners, an impressive strike rate of a win every 5.45 starts, and now her first stakes victory with Betty Spaghetti, who was successful in last Saturday’s Listed Great Easter Stakes.
Betty Spaghetti | Image courtesy of Ajay Berry (Race Images South)
Furlong said the transition to training solo was made easier by strong existing relationships with owners.
“I have been pretty lucky with owners, I had a good relationship with them prior and they have levelled their trust in me. It has been a relatively smooth transition, they have been supportive and it’s been incredible to back it up with results. I have taken over more so than starting from scratch.”
“For me it was more of an emotional thing when Shane left, when you start questioning yourself, can I do this by myself, do I need him, you don’t know until you try.”
“Shane used to say, 'The only way you learn is just to do it, you have to back yourself, and if it doesn’t work out, so be it and you move on.'
“You do your best and that’s all you can do.”
“Shane (Kennedy) used to say, 'the only way you learn is just to do it, you have to back yourself, and if it doesn’t work out, so be it and you move on.'” - Anna Furlong
Currently Furlong’s best is very good, and she will be doing her very best to maintain this strong start for the business and for her loyal owners.
Effective communication and social media matter more than ever
One area where Champagne Racing has consistently excelled is communication, and it's something that Furlong has worked hard to maintain and develop.
“It is huge for us,” Furlong said. “We are very good communicators. We’ve always done weekly updates and newsletters. The whole time I’ve been with Shane, we’ve done that.
“You’ve got to. We’re throwing a lot into social media now also; we have Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.
“We have a fantastic girl who does all our social media (Jess de Lautour), she does stories and reels and gets it all out there for everyone to see. That’s how you attract new owners and keep your current owners happy.
“In essence, it’s promoting what we do.”
“That’s (owner updates and social media) how you attract new owners and keep your current owners happy. In essence, it’s promoting what we do.” - Anna Furlong
When asked if she believes this push has resulted in increased interest, Furlong happily confirmed the effort was paying off.
“We’ve had a lot. We’re constantly getting website enquiries and Facebook messages, it’s huge now, and you have to be doing it.
“We try to do a Friday feature every week, and when something neat happens, we put it out there. If they don’t know, they don’t know!”
“But for everyone to see that we’re doing the work, it’s not just about race day; it takes a village to get all these horses ready.”
Short-term plans to big goals: Building for the future
Looking ahead, Furlong said the stable would ease off through winter.
“It will quiet down a bit, and a lot will go out for a break now. I do have the odd wet tracker. Maybe Betty Spaghetti will have one more.
Betty Spaghetti returns to scale victorious in the Listed Easter Stakes | Image courtesy of Race Images South
“I do have a few young ones that will come in during winter and do some education, and five or six horses that will race through that appreciate the wet tracks.”
Furlong was keen to acknowledge the role her team has played in the stable’s success this season.
“All of the riders and the ground staff play a massive role, we have had a busy season, and I’m very lucky. Also, my owners are fantastic. It takes a team to get results.”
Longer term, Furlong’s competitive nature shines through as she sets her sights even higher.
“I really wanted to train a stakes winner this season, and now I’ve achieved that.
“Now it’s to win a Group race.”
Asked whether there was a specific race she would love to win, Furlong didn’t hesitate.
“A particular race I would love to win is the Oaks; I’ve always wanted to win that. I just love the good staying fillies.
“I would also love to campaign a good horse in Australia.
“To play with the big boys, so to speak, and to be competitive is huge. You want to be better than everyone; that’s the way you have to think. Whether it’s up North or when they come down for carnival time, all I want to do is compete.”
With that mindset and drive, there’s no doubt Anna Furlong and Champagne Racing are only just getting started.
