Retiring star opts for a tree change

Striking racehorse The Mustang (Changeover) who made his mark in two States through his speed and toughness is having a change of pace in retirement.

The seven-year-old was a harness racing pin-up boy, firstly in New South Wales, and then Western Australia, in a career that saw him finish in the top three placings on 59 occasions from his 96 race starts and a 1.49 winning mile rate alongside his name.

Kiara Davies, partner of astute WA trainer Michael Young, based at Mundijong, just outside Perth, said The Mustang, known around the stables as “Stang”, was a gentle giant who would do whatever was asked of him.

“He was just an absolute pleasure to have around – he did love a pat and cuddle, along with spending time at the beach,” she said.

“Nothing fazed him much except for ‘scary branches’ when there was lots of wind. We also had a few anxious moments when sheep or cows appeared near the jog track.”

Davies said that “Stang” was now enjoying life up in the hills of Wooroloo on a 10-acre property, being “spoilt rotten as a pleasure hack on trail rides”.

“We really had no option but to retire him from racing because he had a heart issue. He fibrillated a few times and his heart couldn’t cope under race pressure,” he said.

The Mustang, bred by Brian and Marilyn Gourley and David Shammall, started his career with leading NSW horseman Bernie Hewitt, at Georges Plains, near Bathurst.

In his first season of racing as a two-year-old, the eye-catching gelding posted a wins at Bathurst and Dubbo. At his third start, “Stang” was beaten a head when third at Menangle in the Gr 2 Tatlow Stakes in 1.54-4.

The Mustang had 27 starts in his three-year-old season. The highlight was a win in the $25,000 VicBred Super Series Silver Pace at Bendigo, one of three starts in Victoria during a short campaign. He also recorded seven wins at his Bathurst home track, along with another two at Parkes.

The following season he scored at Bathurst, but a third placing at 125/1 in the 2021 $50K G2 Cordina Chicken Farms Paleface Adios Sprint at Menangle was an awesome run. Expensive Ego and Kowalski Analysis ran first and second in a time of 1.50-5.

In 2022, the Hewitt camp rolled the dice and competed more often at Menangle. Three gallant runs for placings lead to a win in town in the $25,500 Bubba Gump Pest Control Pace in a sizzling 1.49-3. He was runner-up on three occasions.

The Mustang was moved to the Young stable in WA after a change of ownership in the middle of that year. He made his WA debut in October and a huge impact winning a hat-trick of races.

Over the next 14 months, the pacer won more races at Gloucester Park, as well as a dozen placings against good company.

“I think his best win for us was in Perth during the 2022 season when he led and ran away winning by 9.6 metres in a last half of 55.6 seconds. That was a $20,000 event and Gary Hall Jnr drove him,” Kiara said.

The Mustang finished his career with 21 wins and 38 placings from 96 starts for earnings over $280,000.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink