Part owner of Thateldo, John Maas, was flat on his back after a back operation when trainer Jim Taylor offered him a share in Thateldo.
Yesterday in the Westspeed Plate (1000m) the talented three year old gelding, by Charge Forward, did just that- being sent to the lead by Jason Brown and then moving away from them at the business end of the race.
Maas’ decision to risk ‘hip pocket pain’ after back surgery has paid dividends as Thateldo has now won half of his six races and has never been out of a place.
As a turf farmer, Maas is enjoying his talented galloper’s performance on it –and the galloper revels in the softer winter track conditions.
Maas said he was impressed with the ease of his galloper’s win over Spin Da Wheels (Ben Paterson), a winner at his last two starts. Sanctitude (Steven Parnham) was third.
A former apprentice jockey Maas has also been involved with hacks, milk cart horses and pacers. He came back into racing eight years ago, as an owner, and has an interest in 11 racehorses with four different trainers.
However his main trainer is Jim Taylor, who he described as “dedicated and honest.”
BY GEORGE HE DID IT: Taylor’s ‘dedication’ paid off in the second race the Simone Montgomerie Tribute (2000m). He and Brown combined to win for the Perth Racing chairman, Ted van Heemst, with the in-form, Uncle George, in a three way thriller.
Classique Ivory (Shaun O’Donnell) and grey galloper Ask Me Nicely (Steven Parnham), slugged it out to fill the places, losing no friends in the process.
Handily placed, in a muddling run race, Uncle George wore the grey down in a deceptive finish.
Both Uncle George’s jockey and owner thought Ask Me Nicely had lasted long enough,( with only his trainer confident he had won), but in fact the grey was relegated to third by the camera.
Uncle George was bred by the owner and his wife, Marilyn, and has developed into a handy stayer with seven wins from 21 starts.
Although he has had successes at Belmont, Taylor considers that his charge is a better Ascot performer with Perth Cup prospects as a lightweight.
“He is a real stayer now –he can’t sprint like he did, with success, in his younger days,” Taylor said.
Taylor looked to have prospects in the third race with Reset Gold (Ryan Hill) but on the slow track settling last in the 1200m sprint did not help. His owner Sam Trimboli was not happy after the race with that early position.
Reset Gold finished on, for third, behind winner, Lee Rani (Ellie Cockram) and runner up, Black Magic Miss (Steven Parnham), but the ‘bird had flown’ on the corner.
Cockram ’s decision to take off, for home, on the pacemaker, saw the Peter Finger trained mare just last long enough. Parnham had to settle for his third placing in as many races and gained another later in the day.
11.8.13