Mother Nature has set up some unkind weather on the Victorian coast, but it has not tempered the spirits of Portland Harness Racing Owner trainer Gloria Council.
“It was terrible. Apart from the cold, it was just as windy. I went out on Sunday morning to feed and discovered that we had lost a horse shelter – it was blown flat on the floor,” Council said.
But setbacks like that do not love her routine. She is finished every morning at six o’clock, ready to touch the track at the first light.
“I currently have three horses at work,” said Council.
“I drive them in the city and do them in Yarraman Park, where there is a track of 800 meters. There are three or four of us who train there.”
The promising gelding of the Council of the Council (Shade) returned from the track after eight months to score in Geelong on August 29. Driven by leading Reinsman James Herbertson, the Pacer impressed in his 1: 59.4 victory in the ZAV team 6 September Eureka Slothouder Maiden Pace.
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“At his first start in Terang last December, he ran very well for fourth place, but came back with a bad cut on his foot. It took centuries to heal, and I also had a trouble -free with his hocks,” Council said.
“It has been a bit of a team effort – Jonathon O’Connor helps with the fastwork, and farrier Nick Lenehan does fantastic work with the shoe.
“They were one one, and I was a bit worried because Geelong’s straight looks like so long, but he fought and won well. I breeding him from Acella (ACES N SEVENS).
“He is a delicious-normal horse-calm, easy to go to the races, but still a bit green with a lot to learn.”
The Council has enjoyed a good success, especially with Australian bite, a pacer who won eight races and 21 placements about ten years ago.
“He was brutal, and you just had to hope that the right racing day appeared. He won a heat and last series at Melton, and I think his last victory was at 125/1! He raced until he was 13, but I pulled him back when he split a coronary band,” she said.
Her passion for the sport was inherited from her father, Tim Bourke, who helped set up the Yarraman Park Track.
“Dad trained his horses on the roads and Laneaays around Portland. He started when he was about 14 or 15 and stayed until he died. He was a brilliant whore and had some good horses, such as Barella, who won in Melbourne and Pedro Scott in the 1950s.
“He and a friend, Ted Jenkins, built a track on and around the trees with a hill – their time far ahead. My brother Barry, who died 10 years ago, was also in the horses, and his son and daughter Heath and Donna were also involved.”
Council now hopes that Shadowlandz can continue his progress when he will be back on Stawell next Monday 15 September.
From Terry Gange for Harnesslink
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