 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1994
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| Jeanne & Colin Calvert with Bee Bee Cee |
Colin Calvert flicked through the racebook on his way from Chertsey to Addington on Tuesday, and couldn't help but remark to his wife Jeanne how strong the No.7 horses looked. There were six running - Perfect Trust, The Suileman, Lento, Diamond Field, Star Motoring, and the one they were towing in the float - Bee Bee Cee. "I said to Jeanne that seven is a lucky Chinese number, and there were all these good seven horses. I said she had to follow seven all day," he said.
By the time the DB Draught NZ Cup was run, The Suileman had run second, and Lento and Diamond Field had won. No.7 was going for three in a row when Jimmy Curtin, who picked up the drive this season after the Calverts shifted from Southland, went to the start. "The night before the Cup was the best night's sleep he'd had for two weeks," said his wife Sandy. "He wasn't confident, just so relaxed," she quivered. The drive was vintage Jimmy Curtin, though vintage could hardly describe Bee Bee Cee, whose win in the DB Draught NZ Cup at Addington was only his 27th start.
After a superb beginning that gave him the lead for a lap, Curtin found a hole for him three deep on the fence and put him to bed. He was wide awake and moving near the 600 metres, but Curtin set off after Master Musician with only slim hopes of winning and more for the minors. "We'll run second; that's the best I thought we would do," said Curtin. And that's how it appeared 200 metres, even 150 metres out, where Robert Dunn was suddenly showing signs of desperation in the cart. The race was taking a new turn. Bee Bee Cee had come out of the pack and continued bearing down on 'the Master' and relieved him of the lead inside the last 50 metres, winning in 4:01, which was a remarkable run in a wicked wind.
The Calverts were overcome at their good fortune, and although Jeanne said "it was an absolute dream," and "I can't really believe it," it was apparent that both had confidence in their young son of ill-fated Nero's B B. "We gave him four race day starts and six trials, which is what we planned. We wanted to win the Hannon, which we did, and the placing in the Flying Stakes was a bonus. I didn't mind what he ran in his trial last Thursday; all I'm interested in is what he has run his last quarter. He's a lazy horse and only does what he has to," he said. "You haven't seen the best of him yet," said Colin.
The success for the Calverts is remarkable, and makes a good story. Six years ago Colin was put off from his job at the Ocean Beach freezing works where he was a carpenter. Keen to train horses, Colin was given the chance when Jeanne kindly said she would continue her career in education and give Colin the opportunity he wanted. They had a lucky break early on by selling two maideners Full of Dreams and Temporary Profit, and the money they received from that allowed them to consider stepping up in quality. They went to the Ryal Bush breeder Russell Morton and bought the Nero's B B yearling from Classic Countess that was Bee Bee Cee.
It didn't take Colin and Jeanne long to realise that Bee Bee Cee was something special, and this in turn created a problem once he started running out of Southland classes. With the welfare of the horse in mind, they left Southland last year and settled in Canterbury. In between the sale and the shift, the Calvert's bought Classic Countess, in foal to Corsica Almahurst, after the mare was advertised for sale in the "Weekly." Classic Countess has since given them a colt foal this season by OK Bye, and has been served by New York Motoring.
Bee Bee Cee has never missed a beat from the time he started. Respected Southland driver Allan Beck won his first 10, and Curtin has been with him in his two this season.
In some ways this was a fairy-tale ending to an epic contest, given spice by the unexpected failure of the Purdon trio Chokin, Christopher Vance and Montana Vance, the huge performance by third placed upsetter Matthew Lee, and the disappointing showing by Desperate Comment.
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly