Horse project worth the wait
Kiwis like a project and for Debbie Shirley it was to make a small-fat racehorse into a winner.
She did just that, and the wins have kept coming for the Invercargill practice manager who trains Rydgemont Milly in her spare time.
Rydgemont Milly is one of Southland harness racing’s feel good stories.
She’s won 10 races and given Shirley a lot of fun and satisfaction in the past six years.
The trotter has made incredible progress in Shirley’s care since arriving from Timaru.
‘‘Never in a million years did we think we’d be looking at 10 wins ... and for what she’s done, it’s just a dream [result],’’ Shirley said. ‘‘I drove her in her first win and that was special.’’
Shirley’s patience and one-onone handling of Rydgemont Milly has paid off. ‘‘She would have been too time-consuming in a professional stable ... if you were paying training fees for her, you would have sacked her [in the early days].’’
Shirley saw the trotter advertised on the website Horse Trader. She wanted a horse of her own to potter around with in her spare time. Her husband Mark Shirley and his friend Malcolm Dewe race, breed and sell horses on a small scale.
The Shirleys train in partnership and their home and stables back onto Ascot Park racecourse.
Canterbury trainer Robbie Holmes inspected Rydgemont Milly before Shirley agreed to lease her. Holmes said the only noticeable thing about Rydgemont Milly was her small size.
Shirley was also told by the previous trainer that the filly had a habit of jibbing – stopping on the training track.
‘‘When she got off the truck, Mark and I looked at her and said, ‘gee, she’s small’,’’ Shirley said.
‘‘It didn’t put me off, although I was a little worried for a second.
‘‘I thought well, she’s here and I wanted a project and I’ve got a project.’’
After having a couple of days to settle into her new environment the trotter began jogging – in the sulky – at the Ascot Park training tracks.
On three occasions Rydgemont Milly jogged a couple of laps before jibbing. ‘‘I had to lead her home, with the cart on, three times,’’ Shirley said.
She then decided to put Rydgemont Milly on a jog frame (towed by a vehicle) daily to get her fit. That did the trick. ‘‘We jogged her on the frame for three months ... she’s never jibbed again.’’
A bone chip in a knee and a wind operation have been health issues to trouble her.
Two years ago Rydgemont Milly had an operation to fix a breathing problem. Interestingly, after the operation she was no longer hitching at speed and her grumpiness with the ear back and the odd kick had stopped.
Shirley is pleased John Morrison, of Christchurch, can drive Rydgemont Milly in her races as they have developed a bond and combined for five wins.