Todd Howlett ’s ability to find the right races for his horses paid off handsomely in the month of July. He travelled far and wide to land seven winners for the month beginning with the promising Tanglewood at Grafton on July 9th with Aaron Bullock in the saddle. Two days later Todd took a team to Gunnedah and came away with a treble - Church Town (Mikayla Weir), White Arendelle (Darryl McLellan) and Cluny Road (Maddy Owen). On July 12th he found the right BM 72 at Canterbury for Miss Kojiki who duly saluted with Maddy Owen in the saddle. The stable’s winning run continued at Scone two days later when Grant Buckley won on Talons. Todd rounded off a great month when Magic Prophet (Aaron Bullock) saluted at Wellington.
Todd was delighted to contribute a number of winners during the season to Aaron Bullock’s Australian premiership winning tally of 207.5. The jockey spent his entire apprenticeship with Howlett and is always pleased to win a race for his old boss. The trainer currently has 40 horses in work on his well appointed property at Lower Belford between Branxton and Singleton in the Hunter Valley, but looks forward to a change of location not too far down the track.
Todd’s cousin, businessman Sean Dyson is sparing no expense in developing a 500 acre (202 hectare) spelling and training operation on the Putty Rd close to Singleton. Sean’s planning a serious involvement in the thriving NSW racing industry with Todd Howlett as his private trainer. Facilities at the new complex will include a water walker, a 1000m straight “gallop” and state of the art spelling yards.
Todd currently trains from his Lower Belford property but will relocate to Sean Dyson's new training centre near Singleton in the not too distant future - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
When Todd first started to dabble in the training of thoroughbreds he was working as a parks and gardens foreman for the Singleton Council. He performed the enviable feat of winning with his very first starter The Moonster on the horse’s birthday (August 1st) 2000. The son of Vain Karioi won a 1000m Muswellbrook maiden with Terry Ryan in the saddle at the succulent odds of $51.00. “I know it sounds like a fishing yarn but I really thought he could win,” said Howlett. “My wife and I took our own lunches to the races so we’d have a little bit more to put on him at the big odds. We had a lovely result and I was completely hooked. I bit the bullet a few years later and became a full time trainer.”
The Moonster went on to win a total of nine races including one at Canterbury with Hugh Bowman on board. Our Liam was another consistent performer for the Howlett stable winning nine races including three in town. Todd rates Star of Octagonal as the best horse he’s trained thus far. The gelding’s five wins included the Gr 3 South Pacific Classic at Randwick in 2008 with Glen Boss on board. Star Of Octagonal later won an open race at Rosehill with Robert Thompson doing the honours. From a future viewpoint Todd suggests punters should keep an eye out for the promising Tanglewood and a maidener called Dreambender who’s back in work following surgery for the removal of a knee chip.
Congratulations to Todd on his seven win haul in July 2023. Twelve complimentary bags of Pryde’s EasiPerformance will land in his feed shed at Lower Belford in the near future.
Star Of Octagonal (Robert Thompson) wins at Rosehill 2012 - Todd says the gelding was the best he's trained so far - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - Maddy Owen gets Miss Kojiki home narrowly in a BM72 at Canterbury 12/07/2023 - one of Todd's seven winners for the month of July - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)