Ronnie pulls the right pin

Ronnie Comben’s confidence levels leading into  Sunday’s Ararat meeting with his trotting mare Majestic Jewel (Majestic Son) weren’t exactly through the roof. 

In fact, Comben seriously weighed up whether it was more profitable to work a shift as a traffic controller than fulfil the mare’s harness racing engagement. 

With some gentle persuasion from his wife Renee, Comben loaded up the float and headed to Ararat with the mare  in tow. 

And Comben is glad he did. 

Sent out on the third line of betting at $4.20, Majestic Jewel enjoyed the sit behind the leader however it all appeared to go pear-shaped when the mare got dragged back to second last by the tiring Jessicas Story. 

However, James Herbertson had other ideas and managed to extricate Majestic Jewel into the clear with 400 metres to travel and the daughter of Majestic Son produced a stout finale to score running away by five metres from the $2.30 favorite Wilcannia. 

Comben concedes he was pleasantly surprised by  the victory. 

“Prior to Ararat she’d had 91 starts for five wins, so she’s no star,” Comben said. 

“So when I got a call up to work on Sunday morning I nearly scratched her because I thought I’d make more money by working,” he said. 

Ironically, Comben said the impeding pathway down the back straight worked in the mare’s favor. 

“When she gets off the bit she’s usually done but James said she grabbed the bit again when she got held up and wanted to go,” he said. 

Comben believes the mare has been more competitive in three runs back from a spell. 

“I’ve changed her training around a bit,” he said. 

“She runs 400 metres in 40 seconds for 10 minutes and then I walk her for half an hour and then work her over a mile and a half in 3.30. 

She got dragged back at Bendigo at her last start and John (Caldow) said she hit the line well when she got clear.” 

The win was Comben’s 85th race day success and completed a successful sporting weekend for the 61-year-old hobby trainer after Carlton defeated Melbourne to launch the Round 9. 

An ardent Carlton Football Club supporter, Comben’s father Bruce was captain of the club and named in the back pocket in the Carlton Team Of The Century. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink