STEPHENS DOING THEIR WAY

Whatever else pacer Iamawingate does in his racing career he will always have a special place in Allendale’s Stephens family.

He will have the distinction of being the first and only homebred winning foal by Stephens family favourite I Am The Way NZ.

The son of Devil’s Adversary had just three foals – all back in 2012.

It has been a waiting game though for breeder Allan Stephens, and his son and trainer Adam.

Iamawingate did not have his first race start until April this year.

Then it took 16 starts for the gelding to get a win on the board.

The Iamawingate story began with the arrival on I Am The Way from New Zealand to race out of the stable of Ken Whelan.

He was a model of consistency for Whelan, winning twice and being placed nines times in 16 starts as a two and three-year-old.

It was at this point in early 1999 that he made the move to the Stephens stable, where he was trained by Jon Stephens.

Over the next few years Jon took the entire to five wins before he went into Allen’s care.

I Am The Way remained a mainstay of the Stephens’ racing interests along with another NZ-bred pacer in Pos Laju until 2006.

He retired with 12 wins and 43 minor placings for almost $60,000, having given the Stephens plenty of joy.

Given that I Am The Way raced to such as ripe old age and the late start Iamawingate has had to his racing career, the Stephens are set for another fun ride.

Written by David Brehaut

IMAWINGGATE

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