Michbar rewards owners
TRAINER Adam Trinder almost held his breath as he watched his three-year-old Michbar pass a crucial test at Spreyton last Sunday.
Michbar ($2.50 fav) returned to racing after an eight-month lay-off incurred after he bled during a race in Devonport last year.
The incident meant a mandatory three-month ban from racing but Trinder gave the gelded son of Whittington a decent spell and on Sunday connections were rewarded the best way possible.
Michbar raced outside of the leader Robben Island ($4.40) but when his rider Brendon McCoull asked for an effort, the gelding sprinted clear and went on to win by almost two lengths from Catch Me Paddy ($15) with Robben Island 1-1/2 lengths away third. “Coming off a bleed you are always apprehensive and need to crosscheck everything before you start to get serious with training,” Trinder said.
“We had this horse identified as a potential 3YO Cup prospect but as we know he bled in a race and we had to tip him out, so it’s great to see him return to the races and do what he did today.
“He had to jump through a few hoops to get back to the races, but I am very pleased with what he has been able to do at his first run back.”
Michbar won his maiden in a similar fashion to how he toyed with rivals last Sunday.
“He’s run through the line well and finished strongly and that’s what I was hoping for going into this race.”
Trinder said Michbar’s owners Barry and Michelle Diprose had been patient.
“The owners have been great because they have allowed me to take whatever time was required to get this horse back to the races and I’m sure they will reap the rewards.”
Michbar is likely to stick to his home track and work his way through the grades, but he could be a serious horse further down the track and warrants placement in this writer’s Black Book.
Trinder’s stable star Mystic Journey remains in the spelling paddock following an operation to remove bone chips from a from a knee earlier this year.
“Mystic Journey is still in the paddock and it continues to be a waiting game and we’ll just see how she is when she comes back into work.
“All post-surgery reports are good, and presentation externally seems fine.”