James clan’s sorrow

Trainers mourn Pickabee

CONNECTIONS of rising star Uncommon James will be racing with a heavy heart when he kicks off his Victorian autumn campaign following the shock death of his dam Pickabee.

The mare suffered a colic attack on Saturday morning and was unable to be saved, leaving Uncommon James and three unraced progeny to continue on the family line.

Owned by Uncommon James’ co-trainer Matt Hoysted’s wife Caitlin, Pickabee (inset) was a favourite after producing the rising Queensland sprint star, who is one of the favourites for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate in the autumn.

Caitlin Hoysted, nee Lavin, also trained Pickabee to five wins during her training career, including a stakeslevel placing.

Uncommon James will trial at Deagon on Tuesday morning, before making the flight to Melbourne on Wednesday, where Hoysted said he will be looking to do the family proud.

“He is the only one of Pickabee’s to get to the races so far,” She said.

“She was turning 14 this year, she wasn’t young, but not old either.

“We have got two fillies out of her on the ground, at least there are some girls there to pass the family line on a bit.

“She must have had colic throughout the night, because on Friday night at the last feed she was fine, and then Saturday morning she was in a very bad way.

“She died on the way to the hospital, which surprised us because they thought she would make it there.”

Racing in the distinctive Brothers Rugby Union colours, held by Hoysted’s father Peter Lavin, Pickabee was partowned by former Wallabies star John Eales at one point before going on to become a broodmare.

Hoysted said there is a Capitalist two-year-old filly along with a Yes Yes Yes colt (yearling) and a Dundeel filly (foal) still to come out of Pickabee.

The Capitalist filly is a three-quarter sister to the Tony Gollan-trained King Kapa, who was an impressive winner at Doomben on Saturday.

“We had her since she was a yearling,” Hoysted said of Pickabee.

“Dad bought her at the sales from Glenlogan, Steve Morley bred her and her mum died giving birth to her.

“She was passed in and dad made a deal, we have had her since she was a yearling.”

While there will never be another Uncommon James, Hoysted is hopeful he can win his maiden Group 1 in Melbourne during the autumn following his dominant win in the Listed Regal Roller last spring.

“I was so nervous last time he was down there, I didn’t sleep for three days because it was such an unknown,” she said.

“We are throwing him in the deep end straight away, which is scary again, but hopefully he can get to the Oakleigh Plate.”