Sore loss for racing
TASMANIAN racing lost one of its biggest fans last week when West Australian businessman and prolific horse owner Wayne Notman succumbed to illness.
Notman became involved in racing horses in Tasmania when he bought a gelding from New Zealand who raced as Count Da Vinci.
The former Kiwi won a class one handicap in Launceston at his first start for premier Tasmanian trainer Scott Brunton and Notman backed the horse in from $12 to $4 with the windfall almost recovering the horse’s purchase price.
Count Da Vinci won the class one handicap in mid-October 2016 and only four months later jockey David Pires guided the then fiveyear-old to victory in the Group 3 Hobart Cup.
It was the start of a wonderful Tasmanian journey for Notman and his wife, Mignon, who became regulars at race meetings in the state.
He also never missed travelling to Victoria to see Count Da Vinci compete and he cherished the gelding’s win in the 2017 Moe Cup.
Lord Da Vinci was another who delivered the goods for Notman, winning at his first four starts in Tasmania and he went on to become a gallant weight-for-age performer and held a special place in the owner’s heart.
During his Tasmanian experience, Notman also grew close to Pires, who he treated like a son.
He was forced to reduce his involvement in ownership and travelled less because of his illness but his memory will live on through the feats of Count Da Vinci and relationships with Tasmanian industry participants and this writer, who regarded him as a friend.
Notman, 82, was highly regarded as a businessman in Western Australia, but few knew he was born and raised in Tasmania and yearned to one day to race horses in the state and hopefully win a Hobart Cup – mission accomplished.
Notman is survived by his wife, Mignon, and children Nick and Samantha.
THE Tasmanian Racing Club hosts the last meeting of the season at Elwick on Sunday and small fields dominate the eight-race card.
The state jockeys’ premiership will be won by second-year apprentice Codi Jordan, who goes into the meeting with 61 wins to lead Siggy Carr by eight and with Carr not having a full book of rides Jordan’s lead is unassailable.
The top three riders are all female with apprentice Erica Byrne Burke third with 46 wins.
Taylor Johnstone has also had a great season with 32 wins going into Sunday’s meeting to be seventh on the premiership table and her mounts have amassed $741,000 in prizemoney.
Johnstone has been responsible for some of the best rides of the season in the care of trainer Leon Wells at Brighton.
First-year apprentice Chelsea Baker also has excelled, notching 27 wins to be in the top 10, which is an amazing feat given she rode her first winner in March.
To say female riders have dominated in Tasmania this season would be an understatement.
Scott Brunton will retain his crown as premier trainer with 71 wins going into Sunday’s meeting and he is 14 clear of Adam Trinder with Glenn Stevenson third with 41 wins.