It was the late Bart Cummings who said “patience is the least used commodity in racing”. Terry Robinson has long held the same view, and has played the waiting game with many of his horses since becoming a full time thoroughbred trainer in 2005.
Terry’s patience with lightly raced four year old Art Cadeau has been the dominant factor in the gelding’s outstanding record of three wins and six seconds from just nine starts. In two of those outings he was beaten by nose margins. To watch his tradesmanlike win in one of two TAB Highways on Saturday, you would never have known he’d given his trainer many a headache.
“In early preparations he was clearly lacking maturity and wanted things his own way,” said the South Coast horseman. “He’d go off his feed and sulk a little from time to time. Rather than stand over him we gave him the chance to come around to our way of thinking. He got better with every preparation and has developed into a thoroughly professional racehorse.”
Terry had the full support of owner/breeders Mick and Joy Lills when he decided to hasten slowly with the horse. Queensland born Mick learned a good deal about the eccentricities of racehorses years earlier when he actually held a trainer’s licence during working stints in Cairns and Mareeba. It’s on record that he trained his share of winners.
Art Cadeau was bred by his part owner former Queensland representative footballer, Mick Lills - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Mick’s achievements as a horse trainer, although respectable, were overshadowed by his distinguished career as a Rugby League hooker. A footballing career that began in Rockhampton led him to inclusion in the Queensland state side against NSW in 1964 and 1965. Mick had the distinction of lining up against immortals like Reg Gasnier, Johnny King, Johnny Raper and Graeme Langlands on several occasions. “I felt unworthy of being on the same paddock as players of their calibre,” said Mick. “I still can’t believe I was a part of such an amazing era.”
Mick learned the basics of pub management when he held the tenancy of a Carlton Hotel in Mareeba. It would eventually lead him to the ownership of the landmark Earlwood Hotel in Sydney where he spent many happy years.” I sold out in 1998, and decided to settle in the quaint little township of Berry,” said the 81 year old.
Mick has continued to breed and race horses from his South Coast base. One of his notable winners was Art Cadeau’s dam Jewelled Gate who won five races when trained by Leanne Aspros, including The Nivison (Listed) at Randwick with Glen Boss on board.
With Mick’s blessing Terry delayed Art Cadeau’s debut until early in his three year old season. There were only four runners in a 1000m Maiden at Canberra with the Nick Olive trained Exotic Deel starting at odds on. The son of Artie Schiller bounded straight onto the bridle for Adrian Layt and although his winning margin was only a neck, he was never going to get beaten.
The gelding’s effortless galloping action was noted by keen observers.
He looked to do it well within himself but recorded 58.37 for the trip and a surprising 33.09 for the last 600m. “He’s very deceptive to watch,” says Terry Robinson. “He’s got this beautiful easy stride and is going a lot quicker than he appears to be. Interesting to note that he ran the second fastest last 600m on a ten race card at Randwick on Saturday.”
Following his Maiden win Art Cadeau strung together five consecutive seconds, two of them in TAB Highways at Rosehill - a half length second to Leg Work and the same margin behind Ready To Humble. Then came a second to Either Oar after a slow start at Kembla, followed by an overdue TAB Highway win at Rosehill. Just under a month later Art Cadeau beat all but Warrah Flash in yet another Rosehill Highway before heading for a brief break.
Art Cadeau wins his first TAB Highway at Rosehill 31/10/2020 with regular rider Tommy Berry -courtesy Bradley Photographers.
He hadn’t appeared for eight weeks when he lined up in Saturday’s Highway with the steadier of 61 kgs - testimony to his great consistency. Nice and fresh he found the 1100m very much to his liking. He travelled midfield to the hometurn before peeling into the clear approaching the 200m where well supported favourite Water Dove had reached the lead. Spotting Water Dove a whopping 7kgs, Art Cadeau rounded her up quickly and was going away on the line. It was Terry Robinson’s fourteenth TAB Highway success since the concept was introduced in 2015.
One of three for Tom Berry on Saturday. The jockey will ride the gelding in the Country Championship Qualifier at Nowra on February 14 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The 2021 Country Championship now beckons. Art Cadeau’s next assignment comes in a qualifying heat over 1400m at the Nowra Sunday meeting on Valentine’s Day. A win or second placing would thrust him into the $500,000 final at Randwick on the opening day of the championships on April 3rd. Should he miss out at Nowra, a second opportunity is available in a Muswellbrook Wildcard on Sunday March 21st.
Should Art Cadeau qualify in the Nowra heat, Terry then faces the problem of an endless seven week break to the final. “It’s a tough task to keep a horse ticking over for seven weeks,” says Terry. “He would have to have a run in between. You’ve got to find the right race and then hope nothing goes wrong in that race. Many trainers are hoping Racing NSW will find a way around the problem going forward.”
Perhaps the best pointer to Art Cadeau’s prospects in the Country Championship was the phone call Terry received on Sunday morning from Tommy Berry. The premiership leader wanted to make sure the trainer was aware of the gelding’s impressive sectionals at Randwick.
Berry, who rarely rides at Sunday meetings assured Terry that he’s happy to make the trip to Nowra for the qualifier on February 14th.
Terry with younger sister Anna after a Canberra win with Our Rosemaree - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
At 66 years of age “Robbo” feels the need to keep his numbers around the fourteen mark. He and Tara O’Brien share trackwork duties, while his niece Madelaine Adams handles commitments on the ground. Tara worked for Gwenda Marwell for quite some time, and actually had a few race rides. Terry and other local trainers are fortunate to have regular use of the course proper outside the witches hats on the Nowra racecourse. In order to give the horses a beneficial change of scenery he likes them to stretch their legs on the sweeping expanses of Seven Mile Beach from time to time - a routine adopted by his late father Kevin Robinson decades ago.
Terry and his family now live on a twelve acre property at Shoalhaven Heads developed by his father as a riding school many years ago. While Terry concentrates on the racehorses, his wife Monique operates a twenty horse trail and beach riding business for locals and weekend visitors. Monique, as a former trainer and trackwork rider, is well qualified to double as an instructor.
This is how the trot fans remember Terry during his golden years at Harold Park - courtesy Trotguide.com.au.
Apart from the super consistent Art Cadeau, “Robbo” is hopeful two other members of the team will be competitive over the next couple of months. The talented but unsound Lady Demi will join Art Cadeau in the Nowra heat in an attempt to make the Country Championship Final. “She’s got a million issues, but right at the moment is trouble free,” says Terry. “I’ve got the fingers crossed. She’s a lot better mare than people realise.”
Another member of Regal Lodge who could make his presence felt shortly is Art Cadeau’s grey half brother Lord Desanimaux, also owned by Mick and Joy Lill. “He’s capable of a Highway win over a bit of ground,” says the trainer. “There’s an 1800m TAB Highway coming up at Randwick. That’s his goal.”
Like his late father Kevin Robinson, Terry has earned wide recognition as a thoroughbred trainer following a magnificent career in the trotting sulky. At the zenith of his career Kevin Robinson was freely described as a master horseman, and the legend has continued to grow since his passing fifteen years ago. His son Terry is rapidly approaching the time when similar acclaim will sit comfortably on his shoulders.
Monique Robinson runs a busy trail and beach riding business from Regal Lodge.
(Banner image - Art Cadeau thunders home to win his second TAB Highway. It was Terry Robinson's 14th - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)