Racing: Robertson 'one out of the box'

Graham ''Toby'' Robertson (101, centre) is surrounded by four horses he part owns with the...
Graham ''Toby'' Robertson (101, centre) is surrounded by four horses he part owns with the Central Courage Syndicate, trained at Geoff and Jude Knight's Roxburgh stables: Galveston, Seduce Me, Tobys Knight and Zenmach. Fellow syndicate member Norm Weir is on the right. Photo by Got It In One Photography.
A story about the Central Courage Syndicate involves plenty of figures.

There is 29, the number of wins the syndicate has had over the past 10 years.

Then there is the age of the syndicate, which will celebrate its 10 year anniversary late next month.

How about 31, the approximate number of syndicate members? And nine, the most wins delivered by one horse (Al Raza) for the syndicate?

But the coolest number has to be 101. That is the age of Graham ''Toby'' Robertson, who travelled to Roxburgh last week for a photo shoot with four of his horses.

Robertson, of Alexandra, is one of the syndicate members and posed alongside Galveston (aged 4), Seduce Me, Zenmach (both 3) and Tobys Knight (2). And yes, Tobys Knight is named after Robertson and trainers Geoff and Jude Knight.

You have read about Toby a few times in recent years - he took a ride in a dual sulky with professional driver Matthew Williamson at Forbury Park two years ago, the Otago Daily Times reported on his 100th birthday last year, and he was on hand at the Otago harness awards 12 months ago to accept the 3yr old pacing filly award for Al Raza.

Robertson's friend and fellow syndicate member, Norm Weir, also of Alexandra, said the syndicate loved having Robertson as part of the group.

''It's just a privilege to have a man of his stature [in the syndicate],'' Weir said.

''He's just admired by the syndicate for his integrity and his age. He's one out of the box, as far as I'm concerned.''

Robertson and Weir are joined in the syndicate by about 30 others, mainly from around Central Otago, although membership extends as far as the North Island.

''It's been a wonderful ride and the two 2yr olds we bought [Seduce Me and Zenmach] are looking fantastic,'' Weir said.

''We're not there to make money for each other; we're there to race horses. The sale of Al Raza enabled us to buy the two 2yr olds.''

Other horses raced by the Central Courage Syndicate include Tolerate (three wins), Omaha Beach (five wins) and Expressionist (six wins).

Zenmach provided the syndicate with its first 2yr old winner last month, while Seduce Me looks like a maiden winner in waiting after a second placing at Forbury Park last month.

Weir said the syndicate would not have enjoyed the success it had without the astute stock selection of the Knights.

''Their input is of a very high calibre - especially their training methods,'' he said.

''Overall, their selection policy of the replacement horses is excellent and we've really got a lot to thank them for.''

 

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