Sunshine and success spawns another trip

Country Victorian harness racing couple Colin and Michelle Godden might just have caught the travel bug after a memorable – and profitable – Queensland trip.

The couple will be packing their bags and heading home this week after a few final racing engagements.

“It’s the first time we’ve ever been away with some of our horses, but we’ve loved every minute of it. We’re already planning to do it again next year,” Colin said.

“Four will race at Redcliffe on Tuesday afternoon and there’s another one going around at the same track the following night. Then we’ll hit the road for home on Friday.”

The Goddens, who are dairy farmers at Nanneella, near Rochester, have had a successful three-month campaign with their horses winning 10 races with 19 placings for stakemoney of more than $58,000.

The stable scorecard reads as follows: Ajay Breezy Rose (McArdle – Elegant Outlook) 4w-4p ($23,918); Sport Mental (Sportswriter – Camwood Cully) 2w-6p ($16,806); Miss Victoria (Shadow Play – Waltzing Mathilda) 3w-5p ($13,584); Digyourheelsin (Lincoln Royal – Jilliby Deejay) 1w-1p $2264); Tracer Bullet (Mach Three – Arty Alice) 3p ($2271).

“It’s surprised us a little, but we’ve really liked the style of racing up here. There’s plenty of speed on in the races and they are mainly held over the short distances which suited us,” Colin said.

“We’ve been based at a Deception Bay property owned by our daughter Holly and her partner Abigail.

It’s a great spot with plenty of grassy paddocks. Redcliffe is 25 minutes away, while Albion Park is a little over half an hour,” he said.

Colin and Michelle decided to take some horses with them when they headed north for the wedding of Holly and Abigail which was originally planned for July 10.

The wedding was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the couple then aiming for August 13 nuptials. But the uncertainty again intervened.

“Eventually the girls eloped on October 1 and had a ceremony at their farm with a few friends as witnesses. They are planning to have a big post wedding when the time is right,” Colin said.

The Goddens have been dairy farmers for 35 years and have had very few holidays in that time.

“Michelle and I have had little holiday breaks along the way. Squeezing in the training and racing the horses with the cows back home can be tricky,” he said.

“It’s just been so enjoyable just doing the horses up here-it’s been so easy and the weather is great!

“We have been thinking of our son James back on the farm though, because he would have been hard at it!

“Apart from milking, there’s been calving, a lot of silage and a bit of irrigation, but he’s assured us that he’s going alright.”

Godden said he planned to buy a few Kiwi pacers for next year’s campaign.

“There’s good stake money
and we are hoping to get up north at least a few weeks earlier than we did this time,” he said.

“Miss Victoria is off to the broodmare barn and booked into Art Major, while Tracer Bullet is staying in Queensland to race. The rest are going home with us.”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink