Highlights . . .
I have reacquainted myself with my desk here in Lower Stuart
St after a busy couple of weeks following the summer holiday
circuit. While the drawer handles are ergonomically pleasing
and the bookshelf space is ample, it's not quite as much fun
as getting some sun on the face and talking to excited owners
and trainers about their animals.
My highlights included:-
The look on Chauntel Kentish's face after she and partner
Lawrence McCormick trained their first winner at Oamaru on
Tuesday. She told me she was still shaking as we walked back
to the stables. I haven't trained a horse and probably never
will, as I lack the ringcraft, but I can imagine it's a
pretty good feeling.
. . . from the . . .
-The outstanding beef and bacon burger at the Cromwell races.
You can keep your McDonald's and Burger King when a burger
like that is dished up for just $5.
- The sombre mood at Waikouaiti on New Year's Day as the
jockeys thought about the tragedy that had befallen Ashlee
Mundy before pulling out typically professional performances
on the track.
. . . holiday races
-The nerves around the inquiry room at Roxburgh, as the JCA
deliberated as to whether Matthew Williamson had breached the
push-out rule on Roxburgh's horse, Pembrook's Delight. I was
shown the vision of the incident from the various angles, and
the right decision was made, although I hate to think how
loud the boos would have been if she was disqualified. And it
would have been a good thing the grandstand is made out of
concrete.
-Those stoic members of the crowd who stayed on at the Omakau
harness meeting on January 2 despite awful weather and those
equally stoic people who turned up for the gallops the next
day, battling mud and inclement weather. Not quite the hazy
memories that I have of glorious dry days from Omakau
meetings in the mid-1990s . . . my cheap shoes battled on,
but it might be time to invest in some gumboots.
The Ace
I had a shocker last week, so our perceptive racing
sub-editor Jane Davidson steps up this week. She likes
Captain Kirk (Marton JC, Saturday, Race 7). He was a
last-start winner on the Awapuni track over 1200m on December
22 and should handle the extra 200m in distance today.
- matt.smith@odt.co.nz
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