26 May, 2003
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Dreams
Come True
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Three years ago Glenn O'Connell was a
harness racing novice.
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By his own admission he wouldn't have known how to
feed a racehorse let alone train one. My how time flies.
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On Saturday night at Moonee Valley, just
18 months after gaining his trainers licence, O?Connell took top honours in the
prestigious Queen Of The Pacific.
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Edna Bromac (pictured), the second and only
horse he trains, completed one of the sport?s great fairytales with her dashing
front-running display.
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?It?s unbelievable, I?ve got a sore jaw already from
grinning so much?, said the 38 year-old full-time printer.
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?This is what you think about at 5.30 each morning in
the dark when your trying to finding your horse?..it?s a dream come true.?
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O?Connell?s remarkable journey began as an owner for
the Barry & Chris Alford stable.
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Keen to take a hands-on approach with his investments,
he learnt to drive trackwork.
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?I decided to apply for a trial drivers licence and
when I saw it was only $40 extra for a trainers licence I ticked the box and
thought I?d have a go.?
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With little to no experience under his belt, O?Connell
rang Peter Manning, a man he?d never met,18 months ago and asked for some
advice.
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?He invited me to Great Western and I stayed at his
house for three days watching and learning.
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?The people in this game are just great, I bet you
couldn?t ring up a leading thoroughbred trainer and do something like that.
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O?Connell, who?s still completing lessons with the
Bendigo Harness Racing Training Centre, upstaged Manning amongst others to win
Saturday?s Group Two feature.
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Debuting from the stand, Edna Bromac ($13.50) continued
the unblemished record of front markers in the handicap event.
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Beginning safely, she found the front within 400
metres and was rated a treat by Daryl Douglas to score from outsiders Hei
Tenacity ($19.40) and Sneak Peek ($37.50).
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?I was confident that she?d go away and I thought she?d
settle better from the stand because she can get fired up?, explained O?Connell.
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?She does like to be in front and once Daryl got there
he rated her perfectly.
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?If horses come up to her girth she wants to race them
so he kept her rolling along just clear of Sassy Sarah.
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?When I saw she?d run the first half in 63 (seconds),
I though she?d win.
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In winning she rated 2:04.5 for the 2570 metre trip,
scooting over her last half mile in 57.5 seconds.
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O?Connell part-owns Edna Bromac, a 4YO Falcon Seelster
mare, with New Zealand?s Bromac Lodge.
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The Queen Of The Pacific was her 13th victory
from 32 starts for stake earnings of $99,830.
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Once the celebrations subdue, O?Connell will begin
mapping out a plan to tackle November?s Group One Ladyship Mile in Sydney.
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Of her rivals, handicap runners Sassy Sarah ($3.60), Nolarama
($5.30) and Lagoon Lady ($5.80) finished 10th, 14th and
12th respectively.
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The heavily-backed Sassy Sarah worked around to sit
parked mid-race but faded on her run.
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Nolarama raced well below her best and after a
thorough veterinary exam has been stood down from racing pending an ECG.
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Lagoon Lady once again galloped from the stand and
found it difficult to get into what was a leader-dominated affair.
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Ashlees Vicbred Baby
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Star New South Wales filly Ashlees Babe looks
to have a mortgage on the Vicbred Super Series 3YO Fillies Final after her
devastating win at Moonee Valley.
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Sent out a prohibitive $1.40 favourite, the Peter
Morris-trained and driven pacer trounced her rivals in the stronger of two semis
by 16.5 metres rating a slick 1:58.0 for the 2090 metre trip.
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After overcoming an awkward second row draw on the
weekend, she looks near on unbeatable after drawing to lead from barrier five
in next Saturday?s $100,000 Final at Geelong.
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Owned by harness racing?s very own ?Chicken King? Joe
Cordina, she?ll be chasing her 13th victory from just 14 starts in
the Group One feature.
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In the earlier qualifier, Tasmanian filly Queen Carey
led throughout for a comfortable victory, but must now contend with a second row
draw.
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The barrier draw for the $100,000 Vicbred
Super Series 3YO Fillies Final (2100 metres) is;
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(Front Row) Katies Secret (Em), Ally Luvzit,
Coiffeuse, Lombo Party Doll, Ashlees Babe, Baroda Belle, Petite Alto, (Second
row) Queen Carey, Dianalyn, No Soup For You, Awesomely, Lombo Silhouette,
Fleur Moreau.
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The Kelly Boys Hit Town
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Underrated Riverina trainer Bernie Kelly delivered an
upset win with Albert Kelly in the opening Vicbred Super Series 3YO Colts &
Geldings Semi at Moonee Valley.
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Despite having won seven of his nine appearances, the
Albert Albert colt was sent out a $16.70 chance against nominal series
favourites Dee Dees Dream ($2.30) and Black Line ($4.30).
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Firing across from gate seven he made a sustained, but
unsuccessful attempt for the lead, before restraining for a trail.
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With Dee Dees Dream and Black Line both charging home
from well back in the field, Albert Kelly snuck through an opening on the home turn
to charge to victory for driver Bruce Harpley.
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Bernie Kelly is no stranger to Vicbred success having
trained dual winner Dance With Rain and he has the chance to relive that glory
in next Saturday?s Group One Final at Geelong after Albert Kelly drew perfectly
in four.
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Ballarat pacer Mississippi Delta enjoyed a gun trail
before availing himself of the sprint lane to upset Dominator Stride in the
second qualifier.
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The barrier draw for the $100,000 Vicbred
Super Series 3YO Colts & Geldings Final (2100 metres) is;
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(Front Row) Dominator Stride, Lord Vader,
Mississippi Delta, Albert Kelly, Nelson Cody, Dee Dees Dream, Boyfromthebush, (Second
row) Maggies Son, The Odyssey, Tally Junior, Iontheball, Black Line, Full
Limit (Em).
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Round Two to Wagon
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Arcadia trotter Wagons Next shed his
bridesmaid tag to win the $50,000 Vicbred Super Series 3YO Trotters Final at
Moonee Valley.
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After 10 months waiting the lightly-raced son of Wagon
Apollo finally atoned for his second placing in the Vicbred 2YO Final behind
Master Maori, who galloped and finished rearward on Saturday night.
Trainer-driver Glenn Daldy trotted the $3 favourite to
the lead from the pole and he was never headed, covering the 2090 metre trip in
a respectable 2:03.7 mile rate.
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On the line, Wagons Next had seven metres to spare on
the luckless Carlkaarin ($12.60), with pint-sized squaregaiter Nothings Perfect
hanging on for third, a further eight metres away.
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Wagons Next has now raced nine times for three wins
and $46,100 in stakes.
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Ineligible for the Breeders Crown, his remaining
season targets will be The Holmfield and Victoria Trotters Derby.
