 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1987
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| Race Ruler and Trish Lowry |
As Bionic Chance shot past Race Ruler apparently on her way to an epic New Zealand Derby win, Joe Goodyer remained quietly confident "Spike" had the race won. He was not alone in those feelings either. Driver Maurice McKendry knew his charge had something left and had yet to ask Race Ruler for a supreme effort. "I was never worried. He's proved he's a top horse at the business end before and Maurice hadn't hit him," Joe said later.
It was breath-taking stuff. Winning the 73rd running of the New Zealand Derby would have been enough, but Race Ruler was also shooting for the much publicised $102,500 bonus, which would see him collect $248,750 in 10 days and have the chance at another $238,125 pay-out in the Great Northern Derby. All that seemed lost when Race Ruler, after having things pretty much his own way in front, was suddenly second to the flying filly Bionic Chance passing the 200m peg. But, just as quickly 150 metres later, Race Ruler put the issue beyond doubt when he forged ahead again to pass the post half a length clear. McKendry, 32 next month, was suitably impressed. "You hate comparing top horses, but I'd have to rate this one the best I've driven," he said, adding "Placid Victor would be a close second."
The success gave the Methven born and raised McKendry five wins in the John Brandon series from six drives, having won two legs - beaten a head in the third - with Placid Victor two years ago. "I'm beginning to like this series," McKendry said with a grin. Asked if he felt added pressure with the bonus on the line, McKendry replied, "No, it's not the money or the bonuses - the pressure comes every time you drive a top horse."
Bionic Chance, the only filly in the race, was beaten but far from disgraced. From four back on the outer, Pat O'Reilly Jnr set her alight with 1000 metres to run and in an electrifying move she was up outside Race Ruler at the 800. O'Reilly then grabbed a handful again, content for the run home. "We were going better around the home turn and she easily put a good length on him (Race Ruler) when I asked her to. Then for no reason she just knocked off and it was all over," O'Reilly said.
Emcee followed Race Ruler all the way and was two and a half lengths away in third, just holding out Megatrend and Elmer Gantry. Megatrend was the only unlucky runner. From barrier seven he somehow wound up four back on the rails and was still looking for pacing room inside the 200 metres. When a gap came he charged through but then took exception to a flailing whip in front of him. "He should have got third," a disappointed driver Jack Carmichael said.
For Goodyer, 54, it was a highly rewarding and emotional victory. Originally from Murchison on the West Coast, Goodyer has been in the game for over 30 years but has never "put the cart before the horse". "I've usually only kept about six in work at one time. Any more and I would have needed to get help in. I've always tried to keep a team that's profitable," Goodyer said. Now at Taupiri near Huntly, Goodyer recalled how he moved to Canterbury to "learn the ropes" with different horsemen in the early 1960's. "I did three years with Jack Litten when he had several top horses, including Caduceus. Jack was one of the best around in those days. You can't beat experience."
Mainly through the deeds of Race Ruler, Goodyer has now built up his stable to around 16 horses, and has several youngsters waiting in the wings. Among them are two juveniles owned by Alf Wallis and Len Giraud, the owners of Race Ruler. Goodyer bought the Noodlum gelding at the 1985 Great Northern Yearling Sale for $4,500 - "because I liked the look of him" - and, inspired by his deeds last season, Wallis and Giraud asked Goodyer to buy two more youngsters. Wallis recalled how he used to live in Huntly and Goodyer was "just down the road". "We had a horse but he had a bad heart, so I asked Joe to find another," said Wallis. Goodyer bought two at the Great Northern, the other being Maurie's Boy, a winner of three races and $10,000 last season. Prior to Race Ruler and Maurie's Boy, Giraud had also raced one other horse, having some success with a galloper.
For young Trish Lowry, Goodyer's 'right hand man' for the last two months, Saturday was a day of both exhilaration and relief. She admitted to being 'totally worn out' by the end of the week through worry and lack of sleep, and actually slept (or attempted to) last Friday night in the box with Race Ruler. It was definitely a long way from home in the quiet county of Dorset, England. Goodyer credits much of Race Ruler's success in the last fortnight to Trish's dedication and Laser - the latest development in laser therapy from North America.
Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HR Weekly