Last Friday’s Coffs Harbour Cup was one of twenty five qualifying races for the $3 million Big Dance to be run at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day. With entry assured for the winner and runner up, high profile trainers came from near and far to do battle with the ever optimistic locals. Only two went away happy. Matthew Smith continued his recent hot streak when UK import Time Quest staged a spectacular last to first win for top local rider Ben Looker. Ciaron Maher booked a berth in the Big Dance when his UK import Charterhouse was able to beat all but the winner, while other visiting stables were left with nothing but expensive floating bills to the north coast track. Waterhouse/Bott missed their opportunity when Ha Ha Ha missed a place, while Joe Pride (King Of The Castle), Kris Lees (Yankee Hussel), and David Vandyke (En Francais) will all need to reconsider their options.
The Big Dance was the furthest thing from the mind of local trainer Sally Taylor. Her only two runners were in restricted races for a large number of owners, many of whom made it to the popular meeting. It was a day Sally won’t forget in a hurry. Both of her runners won at lengthy odds, and both staged withering finishing runs from rearward positions. Like the Coffs Cup winner Time Quest, Sally’s first starter Over ‘N’ Out came from absolute last in a 1200m Cl 3 - in fact the mare was still last of fourteen runners at the 200m, where Luke Rolls found a quick lane four or five horses in from the outside fence. How Over ‘N’ Out was able to win by a length with Rolls applying the brakes, was one of the talking points of the day.
$1250 Inglis Digital buy Over 'N' Out staged a last to first win for jockey Luke Rolls - courtesy Trackside Photography.
For the umpteenth time this year we had the case of a super cheap Inglis Digital graduate multiplying its auction price many times over. Sally Taylor takes up the story. “Like many trainers I was scouring the entries for the early January Digital auction when I spotted this former Victorian mare,” said the trainer. “At the time the only bid alongside her name was $600. Some checking revealed that Over ‘N’ Out had been trained by the Hayes boys and had won two races with five placings on country tracks. She’d disappeared after putting in an ordinary one at Kerang six months earlier.
“I rang the person listed as the reference who told me that she’d had a few minor issues, but nothing to be concerned about. He said that she was worth a try at the right price. That price turned out to be $1250. We left her in the paddock for quite some time before beginning a serious campaign and didn’t trial her until June just gone. We were thrilled with a good trial win at Taree, but stunned when she couldn’t keep up on a heavy track at Grafton over the carnival. We put that aside and pressed on to the next one at Taree. She finished third and went a heck of a lot better. She worked well after that and I thought she had a better chance than her price suggested on Friday. She’s now banked $18,475 in just three runs for me and friends Bree Daley, Doug Dengate and Paul Berrigan. You’d have to think she can add to that.”
Luke Rolls was full of praise for Over 'N' Out after the Class 3 at Coffs - courtesy Trackside Photography.
Shamaton came into Sally’s Coffs Harbour stables under very different circumstances. The seven year old gelding had already posted five wins and eleven placings for Tony Gollan, accumulating $220,000 for his sixteen owners. He’d won a Cl 4 at Doomben last August, but his following two runs had been below his best. Part owner Cliff Horton who’d had previous dealings with Sally, suggested to his fellow owners that a drop to country grade could give their handy gelding a lease of life. “We were pretty chuffed with his first up third at Grafton in January, but completely mystified by an ordinary effort at Eagle Farm,” recalled Sally. “Blood tests revealed the presence of Ross River Fever in his system which fully explained his flop. It’s a mosquito borne infectious disease that can make humans or animals very sick. We erred on the side of caution and put him away for a lengthy spell.”
“As his form suggests, Shamaton’s been fine ever since. He ran a cracking third first up in a hot field at Tamworth, then fifth in a strong Cl 6 at Grafton before his Coffs win on Friday. And what a good win it was. He was three wide with cover all the way to the turn, before being carted right off the track on the corner. He took a little while to wind up, but was charging late to beat Boncassie and Fender in a pretty good class open sprint. What a great day it was for our little stable. Two runners for two winners on our home track on Cup day. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Shamaton (Bailey Wheeler) stormed home to clinch the double for the Taylor stable - courtesy Trackside Photography.
Thirty one year old Sally Taylor spent most of her childhood at nearby Corindi Beach. She was an enthusiastic pony club participant from an early age, before transitioning to the show ring. She learned the fundamentals of thoroughbred management from her father Brian, who enjoyed modest success as an owner/trainer while Sally was growing up. By late teens she was riding regular trackwork for Coffs Harbour trainers like Jim Jarvis and Brett Bellamy and later gained invaluable experience in Victoria under the tutelage of the high profile training duo Sheila Laxon and John Symons.
By this time Sally was totally besotted with thoroughbreds and focused on making a start as a trainer in her own right. And what a start it turned out to be. Within three months of acquiring her licence, the twenty four old from Coffs Harbour won the 2016 Grafton Cup with Rednev, ridden by Port Macquarie veteran Peter Graham. Any doubts she may have had about the wisdom of training racehorses for a living, quickly went out the window.
A Grafton Cup win with Rednav just three months after gaining her trainer’s licence.
Her fourteen horses are housed on Coffs Harbour racecourse but spend little time on the grass training tracks. Sally is a regular visitor to nearby Boambee Beach where the bulk of her work is done. “I give the beach work most of the credit for Shamaton’s brilliant win on Friday,” she says. “Of all the horses I’ve taken to the beach in recent years, I’ve never had one who enjoys it more. From the moment he gets off the float he’s like a big kid. He has no fear of the crashing surf and literally runs into the water. He likes nothing more than a canter along the sand. I think he’s had only two gallops on the grass this preparation. If we can keep him as happy as he is at the moment, he should give his owners a lot of fun.”
Sally also regularly utilises the well appointed property owned by good friend and client Bree Daley not far from the racecourse. Bree’s Glenbrook Farm incorporates show jumping facilities, first class arena, trail riding availability and round yards if required. “It’s just a complete change from the tedium of stable life,” says the trainer. “We take the horses to Bree’s property at least once a week, and they can be conditioned while enjoying the environment change. It’s a little inconvenient at times, but we try hard to maintain the routine.”
Sally is lavish in her praise of the dedicated team who work with her every day, with special mention of Hannah Turtle. “She’s a native of the UK but has been working in Australia for some years now,” said the trainer. “Hannah worked at Gooree Stud where she became very capable in the breaking of horses. She’s an outstanding rider and a wonderful help in the overall operation of our business.”
Sally’s ground staff do a wonderful job behind the scenes, namely Georgina Irons-Smith and Malia Pakinga. Malia was Shamaton’s strapper on Friday and according to Sally nobody at Coffs Harbour racecourse sported a bigger smile. Georgina is currently learning to ride and is blessed to be surrounded by first class tutors. Most of her instruction takes place on the weekly excursions to Glenbrook Farm. Eighteen year old Georgina has a jockey’s build and according to Sally is hellbent on pursuing a career in the saddle.
Georgina Irons-Smith learning the fundamentals of riding at Glenbrook Farm.
Back at the stables after Shamaton's win and Malia Pakinga was still smiling!
“I’d like to acknowledge the efforts of two other stable regulars says a grateful Sally. “Paul Berrigan is around the place most days and his contribution is greatly appreciated. Paul also does some work for the Coffs Harbour Race Club on the track management team. A special shout out to Steve Flynn who’s here every day and does all the tedious little jobs most of us try to avoid. Steve is also the owner of one of my favourite horses Zanardee’s Lane who’s currently in the paddock. Zanardee’s Lane has won three races and posted seven placings for Steve. One of those placings was a good third in a TAB Highway at the Gosford meeting transferred to Newcastle in May. Steve can’t wait to get him back into work.”
The trainer is trying to keep the lid on her excitement regarding a newly turned two year old filly she has in the stable with the curious name of Cook My Goose. “She’s by Zousain and is one of the quickest learners I’ve ever seen,” says Sally. “You’ve only got to show her something once and off she goes. She’s just an absolute natural two year old. I’ve turned her out for a break but I’m looking forward to getting her back for a two year old preparation. I hope she does the job for one of my best owners, Mark Wilson from the great racing town of Armidale.”
Image 8 - Sally with jockey Peter Graham after Rednav's 2016 Grafton Cup win - courtesy Trackside Photography.
(Banner image - Shamaton (Bailey Wheeler) in the winner's circle at Coffs Harbour - courtesy Trackside Photography)