Outback Man comes to town

Outback Man’s (He’s Watching) win at the Invercargill Harness Racing Club’s meeting at Ascot Park today (Apr. 28) was one for the small time owners.

“Big thrill and with it a whole new experience. It’s the first time the family in two generations have had a horse paying under two dollars. The minute I found out he was a $1.35 shot – I don’t think I’ve slept since,” said owner Graeme Sinnamon who owns the three year old gelding with his wife Dianne.

It was in January 1996 that the Sinnamons had another favourite, when Imachip (Peoples Blue Chip) won at the very last meeting at Hutt Park in Wellington. He’d run second on debut at the same track three days before and paid a $2.25.

“This fella smashed that out of the park for sure.”

The Sinnamon family has had a lifetime involvement with horses, and Graeme freely admits they are well known for producing battlers. An example is Forty Wives (Bettor’s Delight) which has won twice in seventy four starts.

“My ancestors had horses when they jumped off the first boat. My great grandfather Bob Mee had some very good gallopers trained by Sam Shaw – Cheeky Fella and Big Bang.”

Cheeky Fella and Big Bang by Silver King out of Rapport were full brothers and each of them won the Koral Steeplechase at Riccarton; Big Bang as an eleven year old in 1974 and Cheeky Fella as a twelve year old in 1977. Brian Shaw rode Big Bang and Steve Allen was on Cheeky Fella.

Today driver Blair Orange took Outback Man straight to the top. He dictated the race from there, hanging on to win by three quarters of a length from Oneloveonelife (Somebeachsomewhere) with a winning time of 2-44.0.

Known for his enthusiasm while watching his horses race, Graeme got seriously excited as the field took on the final 600 metres and he cheered Outback Man to the winning line and beyond.

“We are amateurs, and we dream about having a good horse because you get used to seeing others having the good ones. He’s only won one race and that doesn’t make him a champion but he’s a champion to us.”

OUTBACK MAN REPLAY

Prior to the race Sinnamon covered most of the racecourse as he pondered from where to watch the race. He settled in front of the north stand.

“I was so focused on the race I can’t remember where I started and ended up. As an amateur driver I find it a lot less stressful driving a horse than watching it from the sideline.”

Outback Man is the first foal out of Iodean (Grinfromeartoear) which won two races for the Sinnamons and traces back to a great family developed by Alex McDonald.

Alister (Black) told us Panadoll (Panorama) was coming up for sale and we were looking to get something a bit more commercial. We bought her and we’ve had lots of fun with some of the horses from the family.”

Panadoll produced Bettordean (Mister Big) two wins, Iodean two wins, Allandale (Gotta Go Cullect) six wins and Southern Starr (He’s Watching) one win.

Graeme and Dianne sold the family farm in 2015 so they’re less hands on these days.

“Lionel (father) has horses at the racecourse (Omakau) and he’s the only trainer left in the whole of Central Otago. We can’t do young horses the way we used to so our horses are at Macca Lodge. Tony (Stratford – trainer) was down there picking up horses and he’s trained for us before so it was a natural choice to send Outback Man there.”

The horse has been given a thorough grounding by Stratford with three workouts for two wins and a second, and a qualifying trial which he won by ten lengths.

“Tony has liked him from day one, so we kept paying the bills. The last month has been a spectacular ride but the bullshit stopped today. We’d find out whether he’s a racehorse or a show pony.”

Today proved without doubt that Outback Man is a racehorse

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink