Daley up and away with first-up winner

Master harness racing trainer Noel Daley, who stamped himself as one of the all-time greats in North America over nearly three decades, has kicked off his Australian career in the best possible way.

 

Daley, private trainer for leviathan owners Emilio and Mary Rosati, of Sydney, landed a Menangle winner yesterday in three-year-old gelding Typhoon Stride (Bettors Delight-Beach Parade (Beach Towel).

 

“It was so good to get the monkey off my back,” an elated Daley said.

 

“The horse won a trial recently and his work since has been first class, so I guess we were hopeful of a good showing,” he said.

 

After being shot to an early lead, Typhoon Stride was well rated by stable reinsman, former Queenslander Leonard Cain.

 

Posting a slick first split of 26.1, Cain eased his foot off the accelerator for comfortable 30.6 and 29.7 sections, before cranking it up again with a final quarter of 27.4. He got home by a neck in a mile rate of a 1.53.8.

 

 

Daley said he was thrilled by the performance of the youngster who would improve greatly from the first-up race start.

 

“Typhoon Stride hadn’t started for over 12 months after kicking his career off with two runs in Victoria, and Leonard (driver) told me that he dragged a punctured wheel for the final 600 metres,” he said.

 

“So, taking all of that into consideration, the pacer went very well.”

 

While Typhoon Stride did his best, Daley was disappointed with his other starter Paramount Stride, who finished near the tailenders for James Rattray.

 

“When we worked the two the other day, not much separated them. Probably all I can say is one went very well on race day…and the other not so well,” Daley said.

 

“It was bad luck for James. I wanted Paramount Stride to go okay for him because we have been good mates for quite some time.

 

“He spent maybe two years with us in America and drove winners for our stable.”

 

Daley is renting stables at the Menangle Training Centre, while a state-of-the-art training establishment is being organised by Rosati.

 

“Emilio has planned every aspect of it, but sometimes these projects take longer to complete than expected,” Daley said.

 

“But I can say that I can’t wait for it to be finally up and ready to go – it’s going to be a great setup.”

 

Daley said his numbers at the training centre had increased to 17 horses when he was permitted to have more stables.

 

“There’s a big bunch of maiden class horses in the team and at least three or four others will be racing soon,” he said.

 

“A lightly raced four-year-old in Arctic Stride will compete at Penrith this Thursday and then we may have another runner at Menangle next week.

 

“Arctic Stride has one win and a placing from four starts, but he went nicely in a recent trial.”

 

Daley said that he had settled into the Sydney environment without a problem. “I’m loving it, and more importantly, so is my six-year-old son Max,” he said.

 

Daley prepared a remarkable 2570 USA winners, which ranks 20 th among all trainers in harness racing history and his total purse of more than $61 million ranks sixth.

 

Others to have won more money are Ron Burke, Jimmy Takter, Robert McIntosh, Erv Miller and Mark Ford.

 

Being based mainly in Bordentown, New Jersey, a little over an hour from New York, Daley prepared such greats as Mr Muscleman (his favorite and his springboard to success), along with Broad Bahn, Cedar Dove, Caviart Alley, My Little Dragon, Explosive Matter and others.