Albury trainer Mitch Beer was unable to be on hand at Randwick on Saturday to see his Kiwi import Swagger (NZ) (Postponed) land the TAB Highway (1400m), but he had more than able deputies to fill the void.
Sister Ash stepped into the hands-on breach, while Beer’s cousin Jordan Mallyon was in the saddle to provide the five-year-old with a perfect ride.
Ash Beer was quick to report in to her brother, who watched the narrow victory from his Albury base, unable to venture from the New South Wales town which borders Victoria, which is enduring another wave of COVID-19.
“It was like he was standing next to me. He was pretty loud on the phone,” Ash Beer said.
“It’s a massive result with Jordy and great connections.”
Mallyon was equally delighted to land the win for family, with a syndicate of owners enjoying a City win by a modestly-purchased tried horse.
“I’m absolutely thrilled, especially for Mitch,” Mallyon said.
“He is my cousin and he has been a really big supporter of mine since I have come back and also for Sam who is a new owner in the stable and a good mate from Albury. It is just a great thrill all round.
Beer sourced Swagger from New Zealand where he had one minor win from nine starts. The former Gerry Harvey-owned galloper was purchased through bloodstock agent Dylan Johnson.
With prizemoney in country New South Wales set to be increased to A$24,000 per race, and a further 20 country meetings upgraded to country showcase status which boast programs with A$30,000 events, the market for tried horses in the country has exploded.
Beer says for a country stable like his, you have to look down all avenues for a bargain and believes more country trainers will adopt the same tactics of buying tried horses from New Zealand.
“I think that the market over there is massive and to buy a horse and bring it over here to compete at Wednesday to Saturday level is very hard. But, there’s so many races to be won in the bush here,” he said.
“The whole thing of six or seven grand to fly them over here, it’s only a couple of clicks online and you can spend an extra five or six (thousand) very easily.”
Kiwi transfer No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) ran out a strong winner of the Taylor Construction Handicap (2400m) just one race later at his second start for Chris Waller.
Racing in the colours of former trainer Bill Thurlow, who remains in the ownership, No Compromise defeated fellow Kiwi-breds Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock) and Sky Horse (NZ) (Tavistock).
The four-year-old gelding has now won three of 14 starts and has banked A$70,000 since crossing the Tasman.
“It’s a fantastic result,” Waller’s Racing Manager Charlie Duckworth said. “He came over in excellent condition from his previous trainer Bill Thurlow and the owner’s daughter is literally at her wedding ceremony right now, so it will be an emotional win for them. It is very exciting.”
