Change of approach inspires trotting success

Victorian harness racing horseman Nigel Milne isn’t one to give up all that easily…and now his perseverance is being rewarded.

Milne, based at Goornong, north of Bendigo, is shooting for a hat-trick of wins with his in-form trotter Inspire (Angus Hall) tonight (May 28) when they step out at their home track.

“We’ve just had to be patient because in the early days the horse ran some great races with some nice fourths, including one in a big race, so we knew the ability was there,” Milne said.

“My father-in-law Jim Morrissey has been instrumental in getting Inspire going well again. Jim is from old school and keeps altering little things with the shoeing and other stuff, and I’ve tried a few things and changed up his work a bit,” he said.

Milne said Inspire went through a period where he would lose any chance in his races with bad barrier manners.

“He was getting worse and worse coming up to the gate. So, we tipped him out and decided when we got him back in again, we’d try a different approach. That included taking our time and giving him 10 to 12 weeks jogging and trying a different training routine,” he said.

“I suppose I’ve also taken a leaf out of my dad’s book, who still trains back home in New Zealand. Dad never used to worry if they galloped or cantered during their jogging – and still doesn’t to this day.

“I don’t use jogging machines much, but I thought it would be similar to a mobile barrier gate. I’m sure it’s been a confidence builder because the horse is now far more relaxed.”

Inspire scored a narrow, but tough win at Shepparton on May 9 and then 10 days later made a trip south to Cranbourne well worthwhile with a faultless display to get the money.

“My wife Danielle does the nominating and the conditions at Cranbourne suited because it was restricted to trainers who hadn’t won a metropolitan race this year. I’d often go there when I was a freelance driver but since I’ve been training, we’ve raced very few times down there.”

Milne came out to Australia about 20 years ago and was a regular driver with a number of strong stables, while also freelancing across the State. He’s driven 322 winners and 920 placings from around 5000 drives.

Milne said the stable had a terrible run in trying to get a race start for Inspire at one stage.

“The first time he was first emergency and then he got balloted out at the next meeting we picked out. The third time he gained a start at a Swan Hill meeting, but that was called off with a power blackout!”, he said.

“We’re hoping he goes okay at Bendigo. He’s drawn wide, so we’ll go back, but I believe he’s better coming from behind.”

Milne, who is a gardener and maintenance worker at a Bendigo aged care village, said he was training three horses at the moment.

“I got the job about eight or nine years ago after giving up freelance driving. I love my work, but I can’t do too many horses, especially in winter when the days are short.

“We do it as a family and apart from myself and Danielle, our children Ngaire and Myiah are also in the ownership.”

Five-year-old gelding Inspire is out of the Group One winning mare Amelia Darling (Kadabra), who won 12 races from 56 starts.

“He’s putting it altogether now and we’ve actually had him on the market. If someone comes along with the right money, we’ll let him go,” he said.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink