Satisfying win in so many ways

You would expect the first trotting win for young Victorian harness racing trainer Tarah McNamara would have been the highlight of her week – but you’d probably be wrong!

The win at Maryborough (Feb 20) was certainly a thrill but perhaps came a close second to the satisfaction of growing confidence that she’s finally cracked the code to her challenging square gaiter Poppy Popstar (Danny Bouchea).

“She’s been a bit of hard work, and a bit naughty.  Her behavior is certainly the thing that’s held her back,” McNamara, of Bendigo, said.

“But I’ve tried a few different things with her, trained her a bit differently and got some good advice, and she’s just gone from one day galloping for 10 laps in her jogwork to trotting all the way.  You never get ahead of yourself, but she has definitely been almost professional ever since,” she said.

Poppy Popstar careered away from the field to win the Haras de Trotteurs Maiden Trot by 22 metres, inspiring such confidence in the run home that driver Michelle Phillips fired off a victory salute 100 metres from the line. The win was a double celebration for the accomplished Phillips – her 250th as a driver, meaning she has now out-driven her country concession claim.

For complete race results, click here.

McNamara and her husband Jack were given Poppy Popstar by their good friend Shaun McNaulty last year.

“Shaun effectively said he was sick of her behavior, and she was a bit of a handful,” McNamara laughed.

“We took her to my dad Nick Youngson’s place at first and I was training her there, helping him work his team.  But he suggested a change of scenery might do the job with her, so I took her back to our place,” she said.

“I train at Bruce Morgan’s stables, across the road from the Bendigo track.  I gave her a bit of extra work and some TLC with acupuncture and chiropractor work every fortnight for a few niggles in places you don’t normally find horses are sore.

“I also got a bit-fitter to look at her because she used to fight a lot, not pulling, but if you went to ease her up, she would be angry.  We changed her bit and those little things seem to have helped her because she’s a lot more comfortable and she’s trotting at last.”

Prior, Poppy Popstar had galloped at four out of her six starts, but trotted faultlessly at her two starts since, for a third and a win.

“I think if she keeps her head together she can win a few more races.  She’s got speed and I think she is tough, so we’re hoping for the best.”

McNamara is a qualified teacher, but after finishing her degree she elected to take a break – and hasn’t yet made it back to the classroom.

“I worked for (trainers) Lisa Miles and for Chris Svanosio for five years and I guess I got sucked in.  So now I’m working at Saddleworld, helping my dad with his team, and training ours.”

The win wasn’t the only milestone for the week for McNamara.  The only other horse in her stable, another “freebie”, Delightful Mia (Bettors Delight) passed the $100,000 mark in stakes at Charlton (Feb 15) a few days prior to Poppy’s win.

“Delightful Mia didn’t win; she didn’t have any luck and ran eighth – but it was enough to get her over that 100 K mark.  She was given to me by a friend Rob Auber, who bred her then found that she’d need some time.  I put her in the paddock for six months before we started working her and she won at her third start and has won 11 races for us including my very first win as a trainer last year.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink