I was lucky enough to have another winner this week with Lucky Black in Ipswich. The strike-rate for the stable is getting up there, and at this stage it’s just been a matter of having the right horse in the right race.
Lucky Black himself has been a terrific horse for us. We own a little of him with Max Whitby – Max won the Cox Plate with me on Savabeel in 2004 – and credit where credit is due, he’s one of those horses that a stable loves: always gives it 110%, always tries his best. For him to win in a class record time is just a bonus.
We’ll space his runs a little from here, give him three weeks or so before another run as he likes it a little bit fresher and keep moving him through the grades.
I had originally booked young Matthew McGillivray on Lucky Black who is a real asset to the stable, but he came down sick on the day. We put young Luke Tarrant on board for which probably ended up being fortunate for the both of us given he outrode his apprentice claim with the win.
He’s a fine young jockey who isn’t afraid to ride confidently and push a horse. He’s on track to win the Queensland Premiership here as an apprentice jockey, something I did in 1989. That doesn’t happen anywhere too often and he’s going extremely well.
The hardest thing about training
The Roar asked me to talk a little about what’s been the most surprising or challenging thing about becoming a trainer.
The answer to that is really two-fold: managing your time, and managing the business and clerical side of things.
Looking after the horses is in many ways easy by comparison. You have a duty to the owners and staff and you just want the best for your horses, and it comes more naturally. The stable is tracking well on that front.
I spoke to top Victorian trainer Mick Price just after the Magic Millions up here, and he had a word of advice which has rung true, and it’s about time management. Like most trainers, I get out of bed at 3am and don’t stop until about 6:30pm at night. There’s not a day off to be had, with only Sundays slightly more relaxed – although I work a full one of those every second one anyway. The learning curve comes with using that time the best you can.
Running the eye over the yearlings
Part of my new career as a trainer is looking at yearlings. This week I’ve been to a number of studs – including Glenlogan Park and Eliza Park Stud – looking at close to around 60 yearlings ahead of the QTIS Magic Millions sales.
I’m looking for the next Wicked Intent or next champion horse, and the studs do their best to make every horse look a winner.
Former champion jockey Ronny Quinton once told me that every yearling in the sale ring looks like your bride on her wedding night – you can fall in love with them all if you’re not careful as they never look any better!
That’s why we do the work – I’m looking for an athlete, a horse with the right features, good confirmation and a pedigree. I’ll look through more than 150 before the sales and given there’s so many, you have to work on a set of criteria. I’m not looking for a precocious two-year old, nor a later starter – just the right athlete.
Saturday’s Racing
Tomorrow’s racing has plenty of good races and good horses. I took a look at Queensland horse Mishani Honcho in the Todman Stakes, and couldn’t believe there were only five starters in the race.
Is that all the colts in Sydney? Why wouldn’t you run your horses? You wouldn’t be frightened to run your colt in the race if you had one – no disrespect to any of the runners, but it’s a Group 2! They pay down to 8th place! It’s not right.
Sydney are seeing a lack of runners more and more, and there’s many reasons for this, but I’d have to say trying to maintain strike-rates shouldn’t be a reason – you can’t get afraid to run your horse.
I’m looking forward to the Canterbury Stakes with Criterion, Catkins, Tiger Tees, Sacred Falls back and Cosmic Endeavour. It’s a quality Group 1 race and one I have fond memories of it with Assertive Lad.
For the Protectionist fans in tomorrow’s Australian Cup, I thought he was only fair in the Peter Young but you never crucify a horse for a first-up run.
I’ve got two horses in tomorrow at the Sunshine Coast – Snippets Caviar runs in Race 6, and he’s drawn well in barrier 4 and ran terrific last start in the heavy going.
Forest Way in Race 8 has struck barrier 19 of 19 which is a bit of bad luck but it’s the right race for him and he’ll do his best. Best of luck to all connections.
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