Self-titled “hobby trainer” Mario Attard wants to soak up every second of life as an owner and harness racing trainer of a boom three-year-old colt.
The Rockbank resident will take the reins of Dont Hold Back at Tabcorp Park Melton tonight, when the colt by Courage Under Fire out of Braeview Express will start at a short price in the Group 3 VHSRC Victoria Sires Classic.
“Win, lose or draw he tries hard and I consider myself lucky to have him,” Attard said.
“I’ll have a drive of him. (Regular reinsman) Greg (Sugars) is a fabulous driver and is probably 10 times the driver I am, but I will do it because I enjoy it. I’m a hobby trainer and want to give it a go.
“I only have three horses after I bought a yearling. I break them in and get them going from the get go. That’s what horse racing is to me, it’s not about money. If it was I would put Greg on him because he would probably do the job better than I would, but I do it for the enjoyment.”
VIDEO: SOAK UP DONT HOLD BACK'S FABULOUS FIVE WINS
Dont Hold Back is certainly bringing plenty of joy to Attard’s camp, having claimed $62,830 in stakes after producing eight starts for five wins and two placings, including winning its VHRSC Victoria Derby heat and placing third behind Lazarus in the final.
The only non-placing came last start at Tabcorp Park Menangle on February 20, when Sugars suffered a flat tyre at the top of the straight after holding the lead with Dont Hold Back. He faded to seventh, 39m in arrears of a fast finishing Zee Dana.
“They took my horse on and run a world record time (for three-year-old colts and geldings),” Attard said. “It is hard to keep going at that speed and I don’t think he would have been able to beat Zee Dana. The disappointing thing was that he failed to qualify for the final.”
Attard said Dont Hold Back also didn’t “travel too well” in his Sydney stopover and so he put him out for a week “to freshen him up”.
“I’m not exactly sure where he’s at. He trialled last week at Melton and ran home pretty good,” he said. “He is coming along good. He is going to have to be at his best, with some nice horses in the race.
“Shadow Sax is a really smart type, Soho Tribecca won a big race last month, Rocknroll Gold – there are some nice horses in this race. It will come down to the luck on the night and the luck in the race.”
Emma Stewart told Trainer Talk Shadow Sax was “a very nice horse” who was “big plans” beyond tonight’s race, but will have to overcome a worst-case scenario draw (barrier eight).
TRAINER TALK: READ EMMA STEWART'S THOUGHTS ON HER SEVEN RUNNERS TONIGHT
Andy Gath’s has prepared Battle Born for the Victoria Sires Classic and said he thought the horse “has a really good future”.
“He is another horse who is a little bit green, he is a little bit in and out in his races, but one who is going to be better with time,” Gath told RSN’s Gait Speed. “He has had a break and freshened up really nice.”
With Attard driving Dont Hold Back, Greg Sugars has been released to take the reins of dad Ross Sugars' chance Blackbird Power, which was drawn in barrier 10.
“He’s going really well, but will be up against some very smart horses,” Sugars said. “The barrier draw was no help, he is going well but will have his work cut out. It is a very smart field with Don’t Hold Back, Soho Tribecca and Shadow Sax clearly better horses.”
For Attard, he will endeavour to drive Dont Hold Back to the front from barrier six to give him every chance and to, above all, bring him home safely. “I’m just trying to take care of him as much as I can so I can race him as long as I can,” he said. “I don’t have anything to replace him and doubt that I ever will.”
Michael Howard