RARELY is Collarenebri trainer Kelly Smith stuck for a few words.
But when his popular galloper Ringside lobbed at $61 at the Moree Ag Supplies and Steel TAB meeting on Tuesday, he could barely put a sentence together.
Rising 10-year-old Ringside and his trainer are one of bush racing’s most popular double-acts, and the crowd cheered loudly on Tuesday, despite the knock-out punch at double-figure odds.
It’s taken a long time for Ringside to get back to race fitness after being sidelined for nearly 12 months with hoof damage.
But a quick back-up and return to his favourite track allowed the old gelding to do what he does best – get out in front and defy all challengers.
Ringside, with Jake Pracey-Holmes riding confidently, led from a favourable draw and just kept going to score by half-a-length from Sally Torrens’ Gold Smiles ($8.50), with Janelle Galea’s Street Swagger ($9.50) a short-head away third.
“It’s taken a long time to get him back,” Smith said.
“He tore his offside hoof nearly all but off, which put him out for almost 12 months.
“He’s been fat for a long time, with all his old issues, but Jake told me ages ago, ‘don’t give up on him; he’ll come back’.
“He loves Moree and he’s got to be in the lead – have his head in front. If ridden from behind, he sulks.
“Gee, he’s been a great old horse – he’s an old gentleman,” Smith smiled.
Pracey-Holmes knows Ringside inside-out, and rode him in the Carinda Cup 10 days before Moree.
“He’s been a great old horse, and Kelly just knows him so well,” Pracey-Holmes said.
“I rode Ringside at Carinda, and Kelly said he’d back up at Moree. Kelly’s done that a few times, and the horse loves it.”
Ringside, owned by Kelly and Carol Smith in partnership with Danny Bourke, led throughout to win easily.
“He got a couple of cheap sectionals, but from the 600m when he towed me into the race, I thought ‘this is the old horse I’ve ridden before’,” Pracey-Holmes said.
“He’s a horse that just loves to lead, especially on this track – he sees the line and attacks it.
“When he kicked away, I knew he was going to be hard to beat with only 55kg on his back.
“It’s a credit to Kel. He’s an absolute champion fella and it’s great to ride winners for him. He knows the old horse so well.
“It’s taken him a few runs to come up this preparation, and I’m just so glad he’s won another one for Kel. The horse has been an old marvel for him and he got the cash today,” he said.
