Dennis back in winning form after lengthy break

It hasn’t taken New South Wales Riverina district trainer Dennis Schmetzer long to hit his straps after taking a 20 year break from harness racing.

Schmetzer hails from Yenda, near Griffith, which would be a very well-known location as far as wine buffs go-being home to Casella Wines, makers of the famous Yellow Tail label.

“It’s a lovely little town, a bit wet at the moment, and Griffith is just 15 minutes away,” Schmetzer said.

“I was growing wine grapes on a little block for a while. But now with the horses I decided the grapes would have to go, so out they come last year,” he said.

Schmetzer is working a small team of two, spearheaded by last start Wagga Wagga winner Heza Conman (Artistic Fella-Oak On Fire (Courage Under Fire).

“I really think he could be worth taking on a trip to Menangle or Melton if I can keep him right,” he said.

“We only paid $3000 for him, but I was aware he had a few problems. He was out in one hip and had muscle and gut issues, so he wasn’t all that happy.”

Schmetzer said a major disappointment and a loss of interest in the sport resulted in him giving harness racing away in the early 2000s.

“I was busy with work, but I did have a really nice two-year-old. He was showing exceptional ability, then won a trial by 50 metres,” he said.

“He was still a colt and was playing one day and fell over on his side and hurt himself. I tried everything to get him right, but he really wasn’t the same horse after that, then a tendon blew up.

“And then one day he seemed a bit off-color. I couldn’t find anything wrong but the next morning he was dead. They were almost certain it was a snake bite, so I guess he was destined never to make it. I really just lost interest then.”

Schmetzer said he still followed the sport when he took the break.

“I had mates in the game, and I enjoyed watching and following them,” he said.

“So eventually I applied to be relicensed again last year and got my trainer’s licence in August. Heza Conman has won at Leeton and now Wagga for us, along with a few placings.”

Schmetzer has had relatives going back to the 1960s involved in harness racing, who enjoyed more than their fair share of success.

“My uncle Billy, who was my dad’s brother, had a talented horse in Emily’s Pride. He trained just down the road at Erigolia,” he said.

“Then my brother Bill, who went out and bought some well-bred mares, raced a smart one in Pleasant Fellow. He won all the cups around the Riverina and was also successful in Melbourne and Sydney a couple of times.

“He knocked back an offer of $100,000, which back then was a huge amount of money. He was by the sire Good Humor Man. Another of my brothers, John raced Lightning Man, also by Good Humor Man, and he won 11 races.

“And now John’s son Steve is a part-owner of Heza Conman, along with another of my nephews Wayne Nancarrow.”

Schmetzer said when he saw Heza Conman advertised for sale, he was immediately impressed by the breeding.

“The sire Artistic Fella had plenty of bottom and the dam is by Courage Under Fire who was as tough as old boots. I was also impressed that he’d won seven races including one at Penrith in 1.56,” he said.

“I’ve found that you have to have a good set-up, because Heza Conman will just run through electric fences. We feed him up pretty well, but oats are off limits because he just gets too fiery.

“His previous trainer Brad Abbott thought that if I could get the horse’s confidence up and perhaps do some muscle work on him, he’d be a nice horse. I’m a great believer in muscle work on my horses. You have to have them feeling good as that’s so important.

“Wagga is a two-hour trip but the big track suits the horse. Jackson Painting did a terrific job to win last start, so we hope to get him again this Friday.”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink