Afterburner back in winning form

You know when a horse wins that happens to be owned by Kenny Baynes, that you’re going to be bombarded with a string of one liners aimed at getting the attention of the press and entertaining all within hearing.

Whilst harness racing trainer Brett Gray was overseeing the debrief of his four runners in the main trot of the day at the Forbury Park Trotting Club meeting at Wyndham, Kenny the entertainer proudly strutted his stuff in his size fourteen boots calling himself Bart (Cummings) and enjoying the moment.

“He’s (Gray) just the water boy as you can see (laughter),” said Kenny.

Afterburner (The Best Madrik), athough trained in Brett Gray’s name, has been in the care of Kenny’s wife Jo since it was decided a change of scenery would help the gelding.

“We took him home and lightly jogged him a couple of times in the cart around the Gore track. We also changed his feed,” said Jo who sponsored the race.

In Race Eight today Andiamo made the pace. Driver Sheree Tomlinson positioned Afterburner three back on the inside for most of the race and then sprinted up the passing lane, to win by three quarters of a length from Andiamo.

“Most of his wins have been with runs like that, when he can get (just) one shot at them,” Gray said.

Afterburner is raced by Baynes Racing which consists of Kenny and his sister-in-law Penny. Jo and Kenny share in the ownership of One More Moment which was the favourite in todays feature trot, but she broke inside the last 1000 metres and lost all chance.

“She didn’t steer that well and started hanging. She’ll have a break,” Jo said.

Brett Gray is a member of the Southern Harness Programmes Committee which structures the races for the season and he’s a fan of the end of season Rewards Series.

“I think it’s great for us southerners. We would have had less nominations for this meeting if the series wasn’t run. If we can have races like these once a month we’ll be sitting pretty.”

As the debrief and banter came to a close Kenny was handed the lead rope, instructed to get involved and after a quick photo opportunity was told by officials that he was required in the swabbing box immediately which typically he took in his stride.

Jo was looking forward to heading home to have a quiet gin but she wasn’t looking forward to having “talkback host” Kenny riding shotgun.

“We’ll hear about this for the next twelve months” she said.

For complete race results click here.

by Bruce Stewart