All roads lead to Maryborough for the Redwood
Waikare Aristocrat - Arclight photo
By Tony Logan
15 July 2011 - On Sunday afternoon (July 17) all roads lead to Maryborough for Redwood Day and a feast of trotting action including the $75,000 Victoria Trotters Derby final.
The harness racing field of 11 runners includes the talented Longlea trained gelding, Waikarie Aristocrat from the stable of Graham McDermott. The handsome black trotter will have plenty of admirers trackside, including the McDermott & Morison Clan which will assemble from far and wide.
Owners and trainers involved in the harness racing game generally make the most of a victory – celebration in some form is essential, as you never know how far down the track the next one is hiding. ‘Tis especially so for the “smaller players” in our industry. Every win is one to be cheered then toasted, savoured and replayed to death. And if you’re lucky enough to strike gold in a Group 1 contest with a “hands on” horse you bred and handled or broke in and educated, then it’s time for smiles a mile wide and when Waikarie Aristocrat crossed the line a half-length clear of his rivals in the recent SA Trotters Derby, Longlea horseman Graham McDermott and his father-in-law, Ararat owner Geoff Morison had realized their dream. Their mighty buzz of excitement, together with the loud and long cheers for the winner, most certainly took place……..but they took place more than 500 km apart.
Graham had floated Waikarie Aristocrat on the day prior to the Derby and stabled as usual, right opposite Globe Derby Park at the stables of legendary SA horseman Jim Hurley. Regular driver Grant Campbell had traveled solo from Great Western on the Saturday afternoon to fulfill his sole engagement for the night. Meanwhile, Geoff and his wife Jan were back home in their lounge room at Ararat. “It would have been lovely to be there but I was under strict doctor’s orders not to travel while recovering after surgery,” said Morison. “The Derby was on late in the program and so I had quite a wait and a number of stubbies to prepare for the race.” Their family supporters were also scattered far and wide with Graham’s wife Tanya home watching on SKY at their Longlea property and Grant’s partner Kerryn Manning driving at the Ballarat race meeting. So when Waikarie Aristocrat scored in Adelaide, the elation of his supporters was shared right across our southern corner. It was in the spring of 2006 that McDermott and Morison decided to send the former classy racemare Waikarie Gold, to the proven stallion Safely Kept, in the hope of producing a handy trotter. Then in October 2007, a handsome black colt was born at Morison’s property. Geoff and Jan cared for Waikarie Gold throughout her time in foal and then enjoyed raising their new arrival. “He was a real character,” said Geoff. “I remember when he was being weaned and taught to lead. The only way we could get him to co-operate was Jan leading mum around the paddock while we followed -me holding a bucket of oats under his nose.” The Morisons soon dubbed the colt “Toff” as they sensed an air of sophistication about their family pet and some time later this evolved into his racing name – Waikarie Aristocrat. The many hours of time and effort they put into the youngster has certainly paid off. “He’s a laid back, switched off, no fuss sort of horse,” said Geoff. “A real professional who seems to take everything in his stride.” Around twelve months later, with the foal now a yearling colt, it was time for a change of scenery - north to Graham’s Longlea stables where the accomplished horseman started the breaking in process, formal education and groundwork for “Toff’s” racing career. “It was the first foray into breeding for both of us,” said Morison. “We were able to go down that track mainly due to the success of our old horse Romeo Castle,” (20 wins & $207,000 stakes for the McDermott and Morison family). “Then to get such a lovely horse with more than average ability has been a real bonus.”
Waikarie Aristocrat made his debut last winter at Maryborough in a heat of the Tatlow Stakes and subsequently finished 2nd behind Chateau Deville in the $50,000 Group 2 Final at Melton. “He should have nearly won first up at Maryborough,” said Morison. “After the race, Grant admitted he’d pushed a bit hard out of the gate and Toff made a rare mistake about 100 metres after the start.”McDermott then decided to track a course to South Australia to compete in a newly launched three race contest, the Taylor Made Travel 2YO Trotters Classic. “He was just too good for the opposition over the border and made a clean sweep of the series,” said Morison. Waikarie Aristocrat headed to the paddock after returning from SA for a well deserved break. His maiden racing campaign of 5 starts had yielded 3wins, a 2nd and 4th placing with $14,200 in stakemoney for his proud owners. “Toff” resumed racing at Melton last Christmas Eve and went down in the tightest of tight finishes to another handy colt, Theywannacallmesue. He struck top form during the New Year with 2 wins and a 2nd from 3 starts on the country circuit, but it was during April that “Toff’s”dual-state Derby assignment was firmly on the table. Waikarie Aristocrat trounced a handy lineup at Maryborough in a heat of the Vicbred Series, finished an unlucky 5th to Elegant Image in the Final and followed up with a gutsy 2nd behind The Bohemian in the VHRSC Holmfield (Group 3) at Melton. On the strength of that fine form, “Toff” stepped out as public elect ($2.70 fav.) in the 2011 SA Trotters Derby.
15 July 2011 - On Sunday afternoon (July 17) all roads lead to Maryborough for Redwood Day and a feast of trotting action including the $75,000 Victoria Trotters Derby final.
The harness racing field of 11 runners includes the talented Longlea trained gelding, Waikarie Aristocrat from the stable of Graham McDermott. The handsome black trotter will have plenty of admirers trackside, including the McDermott & Morison Clan which will assemble from far and wide.
Owners and trainers involved in the harness racing game generally make the most of a victory – celebration in some form is essential, as you never know how far down the track the next one is hiding. ‘Tis especially so for the “smaller players” in our industry. Every win is one to be cheered then toasted, savoured and replayed to death. And if you’re lucky enough to strike gold in a Group 1 contest with a “hands on” horse you bred and handled or broke in and educated, then it’s time for smiles a mile wide and when Waikarie Aristocrat crossed the line a half-length clear of his rivals in the recent SA Trotters Derby, Longlea horseman Graham McDermott and his father-in-law, Ararat owner Geoff Morison had realized their dream. Their mighty buzz of excitement, together with the loud and long cheers for the winner, most certainly took place……..but they took place more than 500 km apart.
Graham had floated Waikarie Aristocrat on the day prior to the Derby and stabled as usual, right opposite Globe Derby Park at the stables of legendary SA horseman Jim Hurley. Regular driver Grant Campbell had traveled solo from Great Western on the Saturday afternoon to fulfill his sole engagement for the night. Meanwhile, Geoff and his wife Jan were back home in their lounge room at Ararat. “It would have been lovely to be there but I was under strict doctor’s orders not to travel while recovering after surgery,” said Morison. “The Derby was on late in the program and so I had quite a wait and a number of stubbies to prepare for the race.” Their family supporters were also scattered far and wide with Graham’s wife Tanya home watching on SKY at their Longlea property and Grant’s partner Kerryn Manning driving at the Ballarat race meeting. So when Waikarie Aristocrat scored in Adelaide, the elation of his supporters was shared right across our southern corner. It was in the spring of 2006 that McDermott and Morison decided to send the former classy racemare Waikarie Gold, to the proven stallion Safely Kept, in the hope of producing a handy trotter. Then in October 2007, a handsome black colt was born at Morison’s property. Geoff and Jan cared for Waikarie Gold throughout her time in foal and then enjoyed raising their new arrival. “He was a real character,” said Geoff. “I remember when he was being weaned and taught to lead. The only way we could get him to co-operate was Jan leading mum around the paddock while we followed -me holding a bucket of oats under his nose.” The Morisons soon dubbed the colt “Toff” as they sensed an air of sophistication about their family pet and some time later this evolved into his racing name – Waikarie Aristocrat. The many hours of time and effort they put into the youngster has certainly paid off. “He’s a laid back, switched off, no fuss sort of horse,” said Geoff. “A real professional who seems to take everything in his stride.” Around twelve months later, with the foal now a yearling colt, it was time for a change of scenery - north to Graham’s Longlea stables where the accomplished horseman started the breaking in process, formal education and groundwork for “Toff’s” racing career. “It was the first foray into breeding for both of us,” said Morison. “We were able to go down that track mainly due to the success of our old horse Romeo Castle,” (20 wins & $207,000 stakes for the McDermott and Morison family). “Then to get such a lovely horse with more than average ability has been a real bonus.”
Waikarie Aristocrat made his debut last winter at Maryborough in a heat of the Tatlow Stakes and subsequently finished 2nd behind Chateau Deville in the $50,000 Group 2 Final at Melton. “He should have nearly won first up at Maryborough,” said Morison. “After the race, Grant admitted he’d pushed a bit hard out of the gate and Toff made a rare mistake about 100 metres after the start.”McDermott then decided to track a course to South Australia to compete in a newly launched three race contest, the Taylor Made Travel 2YO Trotters Classic. “He was just too good for the opposition over the border and made a clean sweep of the series,” said Morison. Waikarie Aristocrat headed to the paddock after returning from SA for a well deserved break. His maiden racing campaign of 5 starts had yielded 3wins, a 2nd and 4th placing with $14,200 in stakemoney for his proud owners. “Toff” resumed racing at Melton last Christmas Eve and went down in the tightest of tight finishes to another handy colt, Theywannacallmesue. He struck top form during the New Year with 2 wins and a 2nd from 3 starts on the country circuit, but it was during April that “Toff’s”dual-state Derby assignment was firmly on the table. Waikarie Aristocrat trounced a handy lineup at Maryborough in a heat of the Vicbred Series, finished an unlucky 5th to Elegant Image in the Final and followed up with a gutsy 2nd behind The Bohemian in the VHRSC Holmfield (Group 3) at Melton. On the strength of that fine form, “Toff” stepped out as public elect ($2.70 fav.) in the 2011 SA Trotters Derby.
