MILDURA harness racing trainer David Vozlic couldn’t believe his luck when he was offered not one, but two former Broken Hill horses to train.
“Both my partner Naomi and I used to keep asking owner Darren Pollard, who has a pet shop in the town, to send down his C1 pacer Euston Flyer to us when the (10-meeting summer) Broken Hill season finished,” Vozlic said.
“We’d noticed that Euston Flyer had heaps of ability and we thought he would certainly be suited down in Mildura,” he said.
“So when Darren relented, not only did we get Euston Flyer, but probably a much nicer other horse he owned in Goodboy Cowboy.
“We honestly didn’t think for a minute that we’d be lucky enough to get the “cowboy” – he was a nice tagalong surprise.”
So when Vozlic scanned the Mildura programs and couldn’t find a suitable race for Goodboy Cowboy, a trip south to Maryborough (again hosting a Charlton meeting) was pencilled in last Thursday afternoon.
“The bottom line was the horse would have drawn the back row at our home track, and he and Somedan (a stablemate who also made the trip) were going to be close in off the front line at Maryborough,” Vozlic said.
And after starting from the favorable three alley, Goodboy Cowboy (Tell All USA-Miss Nightowl (Our Sir Vancelot NZ), driven a treat by Jack Laugher, caused a boilover to claim the Thank You Bendigo Bank Pace in a slick 1.55-7.
After slotting across beautifully Goodboy Cowboy settled in the one out line and two back. Laugher would have later had a wry smile as one of the leaders galloped approaching the bell and he moved up one spot to the perfect one-one.
Stablemate Somedan (Matt Horsnell), who started from the two-alley, was then in the death-seat, but travelling well.
Into the home stretch, favorite punters were happy with themselves as leader and $1.60 favorite Micrometeor (Grant Campbell) looked like an all- the-way winner.
However, Goodboy Cowboy sprinted hard to score a narrow neck win over the favorite, with Somedan three metres away in third spot. The winner was 50/1 on fixed odds and paid $37 on the tote.
“I gave Goodboy Cowboy and Euston Flyer a week off after they arrived as they were super fit,” Vozlic said.
“After we decided on the Maryborough run, we opted to trial them both at Mildura four days before the race and we’re glad we did, because they needed the hit out,” he said.
David and Naomi with Goodboy Cowboy
“Goodboy Cowboy caught our eye a few times. He beat one of ours in Headmaster when he won his CO at Mildura a good while ago and then at last year’s Cup Carnival he went huge when he led and scorched home in 28.2 and 27.4, beating a smart one in King Solomon.
“Then this season at Broken Hill he won two races and went super both times.”
Vozlic himself had a sensational time at the ‘Hill, claiming both the trainers’ and drivers’ premierships. His stable faced the starter on 39 occasions to post 14 wins and 16 placings.
“We were at every meeting, but my owners were happy to race up there,” he said.
“If you are going to run a professional stable from here, you just have to be prepared to travel and find races that suit.”
Vozlic said his interest in harness racing stemmed from following his older brother Andrew to the Mildura region.
“We used to find ourselves around horses, but there was not really any family involvement in the sport. We grew up at Gisborne and used to share farm in tobacco at Myrtleford, and then sugar cane in Cairns,” he said.
“Later I spent time working for Ron ‘Tubby’ Peace, who was probably the greatest influence, although there were also good times with Kevin Murray, Lance Justice and Mildura trainers (the late) Brian Cumming and Greg Pardo.
“When I was with Justice it was during the exciting era of superstar Sokyola.
“But Tubby was really old school and at that time he was flying. He won both the Melbourne and Sydney Premierships in the early ‘90s, which would be just about unthinkable these days.
“I was lucky he showed a huge amount of confidence in me when I was really only just learning. I had to take out my licence so that I could spend the last three months of the season based at Bankstown with a team of four and that contributed to him winning the training title.”
Vozlic, who has 17 in work, is enjoying a successful season.
“It’s hard work, but when the results come it makes it so much easier for both of us,” he said.
“We’re lucky to get great help from the kids because when you’re training a full team it’s a big commitment. “
David with partner Naomi and children Lola (11) and Olivia (7), with Muffy the stable dog!
And while Goodboy Cowboy has vindicated Vozlic’s sharp eye for a winner, the pressure will be on lightly-raced gelding Euston Flyer (Gotta Go Cullect-Second Best Friend (Albert Albert) when he lines up in the Female Drivers Challenge event at Mildura on Thursday night.
Hoofnote: Euston Flyer was a nice trial winner at the track on Sunday morning.
Terry Gange
NewsAlert PR Mildura