23 January 2024 | HRSA Media
GREYBEARDS were out in force at Globe Derby last Saturday night.
Reminding their younger rivals there is still plenty of life in ‘old war horses’, an 11-year-old, three 10-year-olds and a nine-year-old made trips to the winners’ circle.
The ‘youngest’ of the veterans at 9, Horse For Course registered his 11th win, while 10-year-olds Budding Caesar, Whoee Johnson and Jakes Sportswriter “ran like two-year-olds”.
Jakes Sportswriter is clearly the most seasoned with his 259 starts netting 35 wins, 33 seconds and 31 thirds.
The ‘old man’ of the crew, Rocking With Charm isn’t allowing age to wary him as evident by his latest victory as a sprightly 11-year-old.
“He doesn’t know he is 11 and you certainly wouldn’t know it by the way he behaves,” trainer Frank Turner said. “He’s still got plenty of life in him on and off the track.
“I’ve got no plans of retiring him anytime soon as his times are as good as he’s ever gone and he thrives on the competition.
“I will keep him going until he lets me know he has had enough.
“He’s a gentleman, which has been there and done it all, so he takes it in his stride like a real trooper…I would like a couple more like him.”
With Samantha Pascoe holding the reins, Rocking With Charm led throughout from the pole to score by three-and-a-half metres from Ima Workingclassman.
Giant Jackson was two-and-a-half metres away third in 2:02.8 over 2230 metres.
“That was another nice win,” Turner said. “He likes to lead and is always going to be hard to beat when he does.
“He’s not fond of going past them, but doesn’t like letting them past him.”
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