 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1985
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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Jim McGill is not one to hog the limelight, not even when he's entitled to. When Admiral Soanai won the $70,000 Taubmans Dominion Handicap he was on-course but nowhere to be seen during the presentation ceremony. "He will be hiding somewhere down at the stables," Jim's son John said after Admiral Soanai's win, his second from three starts at the Cup meeting.
Admiral Soanai is owned and trained at Ohaupo by Jim, who brought the gelding south by road to Addington. The trip took three days and John said Admiral Soanai had lost 80lb in condition on the way. The gelding was stabled at Addington during his stay in Christchurch and once he had settled in had thrived. "The change in the climate really agreed with him," Jim said.
Admiral Soanai scored an all-the-way win in the NZ Trotting Free-For-All on Show Day after finishing seventh behind Melvander, Tussle, Simon Katz and company in the Quinns Fahions Handicap Trot on Cup Day. He was driven on Cup Day by Tony Herlihy but his regular driver, Brian Gleeson, travelled south from Hamilton to drive Admiral Soanai on Show Day and also drove the eight-year-old Game Pride-Cultured gelding in Saturday night's feature.
Brian, a professional trainer-driver, is also a drainlayer and was unable to get to Addington on Cup Day to drive Admiral Soanai because of business commitments. Brian is also a blacksmith and he shoes Admiral Soanai but not many other horses as he does not like the work much. Admiral Soanai was in the news earlier this year when he appeared on the racetrack wearing an unusual piece of equipment best described as a 'modified mesh visor'. The homemade apparatus was constructed by Jim using one of the wire mesh visors drivers use instead of goggles in wet weather. The visor fits over the gelding's eyes and is worn in conjunction with a more conventional fringe nose flap to help prevent flying grit off the track from worrying him. The apparatus was apparently just what was required, because Admiral Soanai won four races towards the end of last season after he began wearing it and he has continued on his winning way this season with three wins to date from only eight starts.
He was given a lovely run by Brian, who settled him in behind the pacemaker Loyal Step. There he stayed until near the 1300 metres when, with the first three runners racing in indian file, Brian was able to move Admiral Soanai out into the open to sit on the leader's wheel but clear to challenge when asked. He went up alongside Loyal Step near the 800 metres and drew clear soon after.
The favourite Jenner, who broke briefly at the start, adding to his ten metre handicap, settled back on the outer in behind Hard Cash, was sent on a big run forward three wide going down the back the last time. He was pushed four wide turning for home but ran on solidly to lead the chase after Admiral Soanai. He was a clear second but never looked like heading the winner.
Last season's Rowe Cup winner Tussle, who began brilliantly from the ten metre mark and raced in fourth place along the rail, was late getting clear but ran on well for third without threatening the first two. Simon Katz was three lengths behind her in fourth place with Loyal Step fifth.
Credit: Shelly Caldwell writing in the Trotting Calendar