Manangatang trainer gets on a roll

Likeable harness racing trainer Andrew Zanker is wasting no time in making up for nearly three decades away from the sport.

Zanker, based at Manangatang in Victoria’s north west region, got his first winner as a trainer at Mildura on March 13 when Oh My Goodness (Live Or Die USA-Kaspa Kate (Jet Laag USA) was successful for driver Danny Weinert.  The mare then did it again 11 days later with John Caldow aboard at Sunday’s Ouyen Cup meeting in a heat of the Vicbred Platinum Mares Sprint.

“I had a driver’s licence back in the ‘80s and drove four winners for my uncle Trevor Monk, who is now based at Bendigo,” Zanker said.

“I reckon it was probably 1988 when I decided to give it away because I couldn’t give it the time that was needed,” he said.

“My life was fairly busy, being involved in sport, particularly playing and coaching football, as well as farming and then my wife Lisa and I had two lovely children in Amy and Laura, so harness racing got pushed back into the background.

“But the bug was always there and about 18 months ago I thought if I was going to get back into horses and get a trainer’s licence, it was now or never. Time just goes so quick.”

Zanker said he tried a few with limited success, and then along came a mare named Oh My Goodness.

“A great mate of mine in Noel Templeton bred and owns the pacer and I’d been getting my interest back again, not hands-on, but just knocking about with him for the past four years,” he said.

“After well-known Robinvale horseman Alby Adcock broke her in, Noel had her for a bit and then asked if I would be interested in a lease.

“She was a big handful, being incredibly headstrong. But I loved how she was so tough in her jog work and she would just ‘attack’ the sandy hills that make up part of my training track.

“There was just something special about her from day one.”

Zanker said after qualifying Oh My Goodness at the Ouyen trials, his focus had to later shift back to the farm for harvest, so he sent Oh My Goodness down to his uncle Trevor.

“That was a great move because Trevor sorted her out and she impressed in three or four trials before making her race debut and finishing second at Bendigo,” he said.

“When I got her back she followed up with another second placing, but after that went off the boil with a few issues.

“The worst thing was that she started pulling her head off and wouldn’t settle at all. I tried altering her gear and when she was galloping in trackwork I noticed she was sore, so we got Aaron Crimmins, of Bendigo, to go over her with shock wave therapy.

“Aaron found sore spots in a number of places, which may have been annoying her for a long time. So touch wood…everything is going along nicely now.

“The Ouyen win puts us into a $40,000 final at Melton on April 27 so that’s going to be a buzz. She is a terrible traveller though, so I’m thinking I’ll split the trip up and go to Bendigo, have a night over, and then onto Melton the next day.”

Zanker said he was rapt to have star reinsman John Caldow handle his horse at Ouyen.

Striking roan mare Oh My Goodness and driver John Caldow return after her Vicbred series heat win at Ouyen.

“I opted for John when Danny was unavailable owing to having his own horse in the race,” he said.

“I have always held John in high regard, particularly the way he was thrown into the horses as a teenager.  He virtually took over the running of the stable when he lost his brother Peter in a car accident and his father Jack was badly smashed up.

“John showed unbelievable maturity in stepping up and it’s awesome to now see him as one of Victoria’s greats of the sport. He deserves everything that comes his way.”

Caldow was at his brilliant best at Ouyen with Oh My Goodness. After settling awkwardly three back the pegs, he popped out into the death seat in a flash. From there he dictated the tempo, releasing the brakes going into the final corner and careered away to score “with a leg in the air”.

Caldow was full of praise for the horse later, saying that she certainly appeared to have bright future ahead.

“I really do like the way she goes about it – she just gets down to business.”

Meanwhile Zanker is enjoying the success, catching up with a few mates after the Ouyen win at the Manangatang Hotel for some celebration drinks.

“I just love being with the horses. There’s nothing much better to start the day than jogging along out in the country air and perhaps taking your mind away from the terrible farming conditions we are experiencing at the moment,” he said.

“I’m finding it so much fun just doing the training thing – anything else is a bonus.”

NewsAlert PR Mildura