‘Dumb’ horse gives owner a dream winner
After 30 years of owning thoroughbreds, Andrew Love can finally boast a city winner.
And it is thanks to the dumbest horse Terry Robinson has trained.
Persistence paid off for the part-owner from Wollongong as Grand Rouge ($9) went past $2.50 favourite Galaxy Warrior in the final 100m to win by a half length in Saturday’s Highway Handicap at Randwick.
“I’ve been trying for 30 years to get a winner in the city and I’ve probably owned about 50 or 60 horses,” Love said.
It was the fifth Highway win for Robinson who trained King’s Officer and Rose Of Man to two victories apiece in the races for country-trained horses.
“He’s probably the dumbest horse I’ve ever trained,” Robinson said.
“The first five jockeys that rode him, that’s the first thing they said when they came back – ‘dumbest horse I’ve ever ridden’.”
When jockey Tommy Berry first rode the horse in December he hoped it would be the last time.
“He gave me a torrid time. He’s just so big and so raw,” Berry said.
“But his racing manners during the race were better today.”
Robinson’s wife Monique, a former trainer, picked out Grand Rouge at a yearling sale where they paid $67,000 for him.
“I’m sure she’ll get a thrill out of it too,” Robinson said.
Grand Rouge broke through at his fifth attempt in a Highway race and he now has three wins from 22 starts.
Robinson said the six-year-old had the ability to win more races, but was still like a big kid yet to grow up.
“I just hope that one day he does,” Robinson said.