How does it feel to be on the cusp of achieving a lifelong dream?
Harness racing owner Martin Riseley finds himself in that position, his star pacer Lennytheshark the odds-on favourite for the $1.3 million Inter Dominion Grand Final in Perth on Sunday.
It’s very “surreal”, says the 43-year-old.
“I grew up watching Vinny (Knight) and the Purdons at this level and just watching it and being involved in the sport was exciting enough without being front and centre,” he said from Perth.
“I’m very nervous but it’s a good type of nervous, it’s a great feeling.”
Riseley’s children, Sam, 7, who named Lennytheshark, Zac, 3, and Hugh, 2, are all doing what dad did in his younger days – watching the elite level trots through star struck eyes. The only difference is of course, their old man is front and centre.
“They all take their little shark to the trots and they all line up to have their shark hairdo done before the races,” Riseley said.
“It’s really special and important to have all the family involved.
“My wife Belinda and mum Carol, and obviously my dad (Kevin). But the kids are Lenny’s biggest fans.”
Martin Riseley has been enjoying the Twitter banter and images about Lennytheshark
Give his unwavering passion for the industry the next six days are going to be both enjoyable and, in a way, fairly tricky for Riseley.
Right up until Sunday’s Grand Final he’ll be going over the what-ifs and undoubtedly in his mind hearing the race caller declaring Lennytheshark the 2015 Perth Inter Dominion champion.
Of course the golf day and the gala ball will keep him busy. “There are only so many times we can watch the heats. I think we’ve worn out the DVDs,” he said.
“You know how hard it is to get here, so really we’re just enjoying every minute of it and win, lose or draw we’ll go away from here having had a wonderful time. It’s very humbling really.”
Riseley believes the main message for people thinking about getting into racing ownership is that in the trots top-level success is genuinely achievable. “You don’t need to be a sheikh or a millionaire,” he says.
“To be at the top level of any sport is a great place to be.
“I’ve had family and colleagues who aren’t usually harness racing followers coming up to me and wishing me well. Even absolute strangers keen to wish us luck via social media. I’m really enjoying it.
“The message I’d say (to prospective owners) would be ‘come and have a go’. We bought Lenny out of a paddock through an association with a friend. It can happen.”
As for the chances of Riseley’s star winning come Sunday, the punters certainly think he’s the one to beat.
Lennytheshark has been the popular elect right through the Inter Dominion series, winning his first two heats stylishly before an admirable second last time out.
But after Sunday’s barrier draw his odds moved into the red for the first time, shortened into $1.90 on the back of drawing barrier three.
“It gives Chris (Alford) options,” Riseley said.
“If he wants the horse has the speed to challenge early for the lead or if needed he can pop into a nice spot.”
If Lennytheshark does challenge for the lead early then comments made by connections of Lovers Delight (barrier one) that they will look to “hold the lead at all costs” are worth noting.
Wind the clock back to last season’s Inter Dominion Grand Final at Menangle and it was Lenny powering off the arm early and copping pressure through the 400 metres of the race before relenting and jumping on to the leader’s back.
“I think we learnt a fair bit ourselves from that experience,” Riseley said when asked about the comments regarding the polemarker.
“Last time it was us coming out of the gate in a 27 quarter and cooking ourselves. You’re learning the whole way through. But of course at Gloucester Park the lead is a good place to be, so I understand why you’d be keen to get the lead and hold it.
“I reckon there’d be two or three looking to come across potentially as well. You’d have more chance of winning the lottery than being able to build an exact speed map I reckon.”
Regardless of how things pan out early though Riseley knows trainer David Aiken will have Lennytheshark 100 per cent primed for his tilt at greatness.
Aiken has been staunch throughout in his view that Lennytheshark is his best chance so far to pick up an Inter Dominion trophy. He’s had minor placings before, but Lenny’s better than those.
The training of the horse is a family affair also, with Aiken’s son Josh involved – having driven stablemate Cold Major throughout the series – and David Jr also in Perth helping out. It’s all hands on deck in the shark tank.
“They’re pretty laidback,” Riseley said of Aiken and David Jr. “The only one more laidback than them would be Lenny himself.
“You see him at the beach with Zac and Sam aboard. He’s just such a relaxed horse.
“At the track he loves a pat and as soon as you stop and walk away he starts pawing at the ground and saying ‘Hey, come back here!’ He just loves people.
“He’s a bit of a rock star. He rolls in the sand at the beach and is the centre of attention while some of the other horses just stand around and do their thing.”
Come Sunday morning the enormity of the situation will hit Riseley like never before. This looks his time.
“We’ve got some other family coming over, dad’s brother, my uncles and aunties. Also my cousin Dale, who has been a harness racing stalwart, will be flying over. Some great friends will join us so we’ll have a good crew there.
“We’ve employed a nanny for the kids to give us some breathing space to take it all in, but we’ll get to the track and you find those days go like a blink.
“There’s never a dull moment.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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