Untitled Document Marton Becoming So Infamous
Despite having never won a race from his 24 tries, five-year-old gelding So Famous surely has a place in harness racing record books after dead-heating for third at Globe Derby on Friday night.
So Famous met with some interference from fellow dead-heater Owen Girl shortly after the start in last Friday's SEW Eurodrive Pace and following a successful protest from his trainer-driver Jim Marton, was rewarded with outright third by himself.
But that doesn't take away the simply amazing fact that as So Famous crossed the line locked together with Owen Girl it became the third time he had dead-heated for a placing. When the gelding has only placed three times and had to share the prize on each occasion you would start to think Marton is jinxed. However the Buchfelde trainer is more philosophical.
"I'm not superstitious. I believe it is amazing, but its just like people who say that they've drawn six sixes in a row and believe it's not possible. It just the way the marbles fall sometimes," Marton remarked.
So Famous has had a chequered career since debuting as a three-year-old for Marton in August last year shortly after he took out a lease on the horse from Mildura trainer Geoff Lucas. But his trainer believes the reputation as a problem horse is unwarranted and a win may not be far away.
Friday night's performance to overcome his early-race setback to storm home for third proved he may not be far away from a breakthrough win.
"The horse has got a little bit better all the time," Marton said. "He is definitely knocking on the door and with all these little things that go on we roll our eyes but I say to my wife all we have to do is keep trying."
With some luck So Famous may go on to win a few races but will never live up to the record of the horse that gave Jim Marton his first taste of harness racing almost thirty years ago.
"Back in about 1977 we moved to a property at Two Wells that happened to be right next door to Kevin Dempsey who was campaigning Nevada Smoke at the time," Marton recalled.
Nevada Smoke was a star of South Australian harness racing during the 1970's and had been a heat placegetter and finalist in the previous years 1976 Adelaide Inter Dominion on his way to a record of more than sixty wins and thirty placings.
Marton had always had horses around the place, breaking in hacks and ponies but the harness bug bit when Dempsey offered him a drive on his star pacer.
"At the time I was completely oblivious to the honour he was giving me. I hopped in the bike behind Nevada Smoke, having never sat in a bike before and 'Smokey' more or less bowled around the track and did everything he was supposed to do and then brought me back."
"Kevin asked me what I thought of that and of course I thought it was terrific. He said, well you went a little bit fast but that's alright."
From that point on Jim Marton and family, including wife Jill and three children, have always had keen interest in harness racing and a standardbred close by. Now they are just hoping So Famous can be less famous for his placings and peg back a few wins on 'Smokey.'
Bain Rewarded
Gawler River horseman Peter Bain was rewarded for his patience with five-year-old gelding Indian Pacific who broke through for his first win at his final race as a four-year-old on the third last day of the 2005-2006 SA harness racing season.
Indian Pacific had been living in the shadow of his younger full-sister Carnival Rose who had achieved five seconds and a win at her last seven starts. But the son of Albert Albert claimed some recognition in the stable by winning his first race at start 37.
Showing glimpses of his ability with ten placings in those 37 attempts, Indian Pacific put the writing on the wall the a treble of fourths during the month leading up to his maiden victory.
Both Carnival Rose, who has won two of her 12 starts, and Indian Pacific were bred by Val Bain out of New York Motoring mare Motoring Bye who won 15 races from stints with Peter Bain as well as spending time with fellow trainer Alan Smith and Peter Lawrence.
The mare has now produced three foals for three winners with the Bain duo joined by 1997 progeny Scooting Bye.
No Rest for Harding
South Australia's premier driver David Harding served a warning that he will not be slowing down in is his search for winners during the new season, starting off the 2006-2007 racing term the exact same way he finished the previous.
Harding completed August and the harness racing year by winning the final event on Black Saab for Port Pirie trainer Peter Thompson. He was then back in the winners circle after race one for the new season at Globe Derby Park on Friday night, aboard Jaccka Tiger for Joe Buttigieg.
The 28-year-old reinsman has an enormous task ahead to reach the 170-win mark he set last season a 100 percent increase on his previous tally. But with his talent in the sulky still developing and a strong work-ethic who knows what heights he can reach.
