A Racing Battler
September 15th 2010 23:19
A contribution by Neil Murray:
words and photography by Neil Murray
Spring time in Melbourne heralds the arrival of the top class races, carrying millions of dollars in prize money. Already we are seeing the cream of Australian race horses thrilling us in lead up races – So You Think, Shocking, Whobegotyou, Typhoon Tracy - and who knows what others will burst on the scene.
These are the quality horses, prolific winners, horse that can give us goose bumps we watch them crush opposition from the front, swoop and pounce upon the leaders or fight out neck epic neck and neck duels to the line.
But such horses are the tip of the racehorse iceberg. Below them are the many lesser grades of racehorse – from average city class to provincial class to picnic class horses who compete for a few hundred dollars in prize money. Many horses never win a race. Some go around many times for a very occasional success. Just such a horse, Sir Tristalang, had a rare win last Monday at Pakenham.
Sir Tristalang, now a seven year old brown gelding, first appeared on the track in a trial at Cranbourne in July 2006. He finished fifth in a field of seven. It took twenty five starts without a placing, before two years later he managed a second over 2213 metres at Sale. A month later, at his thirtieth start, Sir Tristalang broke through to win his first race, a 2400 metre race in slow going at Bendigo.
Another year passed before Sir Tristalang won his second race, a first up win in heavy going at Cranbourne. One more win followed before this latest success at Pakenham. The latest win came in the Pakenham Golf Club Highweight over 2400 metres run on a heavy track. Nathan Dunn rode him at 67 Kg. Nathan in the bright pink colours quickly booted Sir Tristalang to the front and lead all the way to win by a length on the line.
Sir Tristalang’s record now stands at fifty two starts for four wins and eight placings, total prize money $54,267. Nothing to write home about when compared to the So You Think’s of the racing world but for the owners and trainer, no less a sweet moment as they watched their bright pink colours flash across the line first.
One of Sir Tristalang’s losing runs. Here he’s first past the post the first time around, only to finish out of a place in the end. Pakenham 26 October 2009
Sir Tristalang leads the first time around. Pakenham Golf Club H/W 13 September 2010
Nathan Dunn has winner, Sir Tristalang comfortably ahead of second placegetter, Lemonade Party. Pakenham 13 September 2010.
words and photography by Neil Murray
Spring time in Melbourne heralds the arrival of the top class races, carrying millions of dollars in prize money. Already we are seeing the cream of Australian race horses thrilling us in lead up races – So You Think, Shocking, Whobegotyou, Typhoon Tracy - and who knows what others will burst on the scene.
These are the quality horses, prolific winners, horse that can give us goose bumps we watch them crush opposition from the front, swoop and pounce upon the leaders or fight out neck epic neck and neck duels to the line.
But such horses are the tip of the racehorse iceberg. Below them are the many lesser grades of racehorse – from average city class to provincial class to picnic class horses who compete for a few hundred dollars in prize money. Many horses never win a race. Some go around many times for a very occasional success. Just such a horse, Sir Tristalang, had a rare win last Monday at Pakenham.
Sir Tristalang, now a seven year old brown gelding, first appeared on the track in a trial at Cranbourne in July 2006. He finished fifth in a field of seven. It took twenty five starts without a placing, before two years later he managed a second over 2213 metres at Sale. A month later, at his thirtieth start, Sir Tristalang broke through to win his first race, a 2400 metre race in slow going at Bendigo.
Another year passed before Sir Tristalang won his second race, a first up win in heavy going at Cranbourne. One more win followed before this latest success at Pakenham. The latest win came in the Pakenham Golf Club Highweight over 2400 metres run on a heavy track. Nathan Dunn rode him at 67 Kg. Nathan in the bright pink colours quickly booted Sir Tristalang to the front and lead all the way to win by a length on the line.
Sir Tristalang’s record now stands at fifty two starts for four wins and eight placings, total prize money $54,267. Nothing to write home about when compared to the So You Think’s of the racing world but for the owners and trainer, no less a sweet moment as they watched their bright pink colours flash across the line first.
One of Sir Tristalang’s losing runs. Here he’s first past the post the first time around, only to finish out of a place in the end. Pakenham 26 October 2009
Sir Tristalang leads the first time around. Pakenham Golf Club H/W 13 September 2010
Nathan Dunn has winner, Sir Tristalang comfortably ahead of second placegetter, Lemonade Party. Pakenham 13 September 2010.
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