After a bitterly disappointing loss to West Coast in our last game of the regular season, an enjoyable day at the trots was exactly the remedy I needed.
And what a sensational day it was!
The weather was great, the crowd arrived early and we all witnessed 10 races of the highest quality. My role as Breeders Crown ambassador was a simple one – help owners and spectators enjoy the day but the horses took care of that for me. From superstar New Zealanders in Partyon and Our Waikiki Beach to future Grand Circuit stars in Ideal For Real and Tee Cee Bee Macray, punters were gifted with a day of racing not to be forgotten.
In the owners marquee, I was fortunate enough to meet and greet owners of many of the day’s contenders including the owners of Miss Graceland, Miss Dangerfield and the famed ‘Birchip Boys’ who are always there to support their star, Menin Gate. The marquee was filled with hopeful and eventually delighted owners of winning horses, none more so than when Rocknroll Magic exploded up the sprint lane to claim an unlikely victory after being stuck three-back on the pegs. Shortly after the star filly’s victory I was almost dragged into the owners room to watch the replay and celebrate with the large ownership group, many of whom were fellow Adelaide folk. It was a thrill just to see the owners overcome with joy – it made me want to get to the next yearling sales and find myself a future Breeders Crown winner!
My bias was not completely parked for the day either as I sat alongside Michael Stanley’s wife Gen as their gallant two year-old Petacular produced a moments effort to run second to Mark Purdon’s unbeaten juvenile, Partyon. Again, call me biased but Petacular produced arguably the run of the day and somehow did not collect the winning cheque. Big things await her as a three-year-old.
The 2016 Race to Royalty capped a fantastic season for the trots and I was thankful to be a small part of it. Onwards and upwards to the next big day at the trots!
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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