Local entertainer Dene Allen is singing the praises of local trainer Matt Saunders after the West Plains trainer won the Foveaux Equestrian Claimers Mobile Pace at Ascot Park today with Pocket Caesar.
It was the first horse Allen has ever owned; he had his first start and won to boot.
However he's not completely new to the industry.
"My cousin Andrew Faulks trains horses so I've been following them for a few years but I've never owned one. I got the opportunity when Matt came along and said if you do a gig for me what would you charge, I'll take that cost off for you and race a horse with a ten per cent share," said Allen.
Pocket Caesar was having his first start for Saunders after having seventeen starts for Lindsay Veint.
From barrier five driver Brent Barclay speared the five year old to an early lead before handing up to favourite Hurricane Banner. That order remained until the home straight when Barclay and Pocket Caesar made up four lengths to get up and beat Hurricane Banner by half a length.
Allen said "It's funny when someone says (the trainer) "we'll take the lead and then hand up to the favourite." That's what happened today. How often does that happen – hardly ever!"
Allen completed a music course at SIT. He shares the ownership of the horse with two well established Saunders syndicates – The Sue Ping Syndicate which is made up of rugby mates of Saunders including Jamie Mackintosh and Scottish International John Hardie, and the Bratk Syndicate which are Saunders family members.
Although racing was today's focus a major stage production is also to the forefront of the guitarist singer's mind.
"We've got the Johnny Cash show coming up at the Civic Theatre so that's the next thing. We've sold 600 tickets and we've got another 300 to sell."
Pocket Caesar
Bruce Stewart