McGowan & her massaging hands weave their Alexandra Park magic

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McGowan and her magic massaging hands

Harnesslink News Room 10:41 PM 19-Jun-2009 NZT

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Dave McGowan and driver Nicole Molander - with Noble Norm in the Alexandra Park winners circle tonight

Noble Norm and Nicole Molander - winning the Lion red Mobile Miaden.

Nicole Molander saluted the judge with - Noble Norm.

If anyone can fix a horse with a wonky back Clare McGowan can. In fact she proved that at Alexandra Park tonight when Noble Norm won the $10,000 Lion Red Maiden. It was his first win in 12 attempts but has now recorded a win and a second in two starts for McGowan and her co-training husband Dave.

The 4-year-old Christian Cullen-Precocious Star gelding started his racing career on Christmas Eve 2007 for then trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan. The best he could do for them was a sixth before transferring to Steve Green at Tuakau after just four races. He had a further six starts for Green but back difficulties ensured a sixth was again the best result he could produce.

Then in April he was sent to the McGowans at Pukekohe to see if they could turn him around. The Franklin couple has a special way with their horses and throw in Clare's equine physiotherapy expertise and it appears Noble Norm is back on song again.

There's no doubting the bay has talent. He was an $80,000 purchase at the Ready To Run Sales, and Barry Purdon doesn't take rubbish on board. However his back injury suffered at an early age has cost him - up until relocating at the McGowan's residence.

"Clare has worked wonders with him. He has really responded to her treatment because we have had him for not even two months yet. He's still a bit tight and needs to stretch out a bit but he has come a long way in a short amount of time. He is a work in progress," Dave McGowan said.

He believed that once he was bigger, rounder and stronger, Noble Norm had the ability to go beyond a good mid-graded pacer.

"He just feels right. His back might have been misaligned but he is showing no signs of that pain now and is really start to enjoy his racing. Once he is completely over it he will win a few more races alright. I have got a lot of time for him," said McGowan rated Noble Norm as the best in his stable along Arma Fake, The Drunken Drummer and Rowan Three.

Noble Norm started from barrier three and was superbly driven by Nicole Molander. They paced the 2200m mobile in 2:47 (mile rate: 2:02.1) with final 800m and 400m sectionals of 57 and 29.4 seconds. Favourite Interceptor (Mark Purdon) and Gotta Go Under Fire (Steven Reid) were 2-1/4 lengths and a nose back in second and third.

McGowan said he would now race the son of Christian Cullen at fortnightly intervals while he is freeing up and racing well.

"AS you can see by his bucking tonight he's got a bit of energy to expend. He still gets a bit stirred up but that's understandable after just a dozen or so races. He will improve with racing. All he needs is time race-night experience," McGowan said.

Results from the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting at Alexandra Park tonight (Friday) were:

Race 1: The David and Clare McGowan trained Noble Norm (Nicole Molander).

Race 2: The Mark Purdon and Grant Payne trained Millwood Nebraska (Mark Purdon).

Race 3: The Derek Balle trained Make Our Deigh (David Butcher).

Race 4: The Steven Reid and Graeme Rogerson trained Dead Calm (Steven Reid).

Race 5: The Maurice McKendry trained and drive Percy The Punter.

Race 6: The David and Clare McGowan trained Arma Fake (Nicole Molander).

Race 7: The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan trained Calamity Gal (Scott Phelan).

Race 8: The Jeff Wheeler trained Lucky Nova (Anna Stormont).

Race 9: The Todd Mitchell trained and driven Flameing Spirit.

Extensive results.

Duane RANGER (editor)