Bolter from the blue puts wind up trainer

GRAEME McCulloch is normally jubilant after one of his team wins, but it was with some trepidation that he faced the media after his three-yearold gelding Windrider stormed home to win a benchmark 58 handicap in Launceston on Tuesday.

Windrider ($20) was having his first start since late December and had not been to the trials, which led to the trainer telling the horse’s owner, Geoffrey Liu, not to bother having a bet.

“Without a trial and knowing that he would need the run I told the owner that it would be better if he waited for another race to have a bet,” said the Tasmania Hall of Fame trainer-breeder.

During the post-race media interview McCulloch’s mobile phone rang non-stop.

“I’m loath to answer the phone because I know it’s the owner and I’m a bit embarrassed,” he said.

“I’m thrilled that the horse was able to win but I honestly thought he would need the run. I’ve got no doubt he is going to improve heaps on that run so maybe he can do the same thing at his next start — but he might not be those sort of odds.”

Windrider showed enor- mous potential as a two-yearold, winning two of his last six starts and he was placed in the other four. But after a brief spell the horse lost all form and it baffled McCulloch.

“When I tipped him out for a break after winning in Devonport in August I honestly thought I’d have a Tasmanian Guineas horse, but when he came back to racing he went poorly at all four starts.

“The only thing I could put it down to was that he was still a colt, so I ended up gelding him.

“Leading up to this race he had been galloped sparingly and there looked to be so much improvement in him, condition wise.”

McCulloch will contemplate starting Windrider in the $50,000 3YO Autumn Classic over 1400m in Launceston on May 13.