EMOTIONS RUN HIGH AFTER WIN
Swing King eases pain for unlucky couple
THE past two years have been filled with injuries and personal setbacks for trainer Mark Everett and his life partner Vanessa Medhurst.
However, all the anguish and pain that came with personal injuries to them both and financial hardship was forgotten for a moment when their gelding Swing King won a benchmark race in Launceston on Wednesday night.
With Siggy Car aboard, Swing King ($41 into $7.50) burst from the gates to lead and, after sneaking a cheap sectional, the gelding kicked on the home turn and held on gamely to score a half-length win over Ziavera ($26) and Nev’s Boy ($6).
Swing King landed in Everett’s care last year and, after working through a couple of issues, he presented at Elwick for his first start in the state two weeks ago for a game fourth after experiencing a tough run in the race.
“This is absolutely brilliant, and I can’t adequately explain what it means to Vanessa and I,” Everett said after the win.
“We’ve had a horrid two years or so and Vanessa landed in hospital with multiple fractures to her pelvis from a fall, and I was working at the Salmon Farms and suffered a back injury that pretty much rendered me helpless for ages.
“When this horse came along I spoke to a former longtime owner and friend, Greg Pitt, and he agreed to come into the horse with another mate and we started working on getting him ready for a race.
“Winning isn’t everything in this game but it makes a huge difference when you are struggling.”
The likeable couple struggled to hold back tears during interviews after the race, which pretty much painted their picture without words.
• WHEN it comes to young horses there is no substitute for race experience and that’s how it panned out in the 2YO Maiden over 1100m on Wednesday.
The Yassy Nishitanitrained The Spirit of Zero broke his maiden status over 1100m as the only one of the six starters who had race experience.
The Needs Further gelding came from back in the field to storm past the race leaders to score by a half-length from first-starters Johnny Pinch ($23) and race favourite La Virago ($1.85), who led but tired at the business end.
The Spirit of Zero made his debut at Spreyton a month earlier for a game second to Popilita and that conditioning run was the telling factor in Wednesday night’s win.
Nishitani was thrilled, especially as it was a Tasbred Bonus race that had a $20,000 bonus attached to the stake, of which the winner’s share was almost $17,000, making it a $36,825 result for the owners.
As Nishitani’s wife, Ayana, bred the gelding to earn a $4000 breeder bonus, and she has a share in the horse, it was a handy payday for the family.
“I was a bit disappointed he didn’t win on debut but he needed the race experience,” Nishitani said.
“Tonight, he looked like he was awake and ready to go, and that race experience gave him the edge.”
Nishitani will wait to see how the gelding pulls up before deciding whether to run him in the $150,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes in Launceston on February 5.