Get my Name in a Race Book #158

The day has arrived. My horse, Kickstart My Heart (Denny) is heading to the races. Today my name Mr. N S Orton will be in a race book, albeit a paper printed one most likely but I couldn’t care less.

I first purchased a share in this horse from Darby in June of 2015. I am not a bloodstock expert but was aware that he would take time to mature and expected to wait a while before getting to the point where we are at now.  He went into Bjorn Bakers stable as an early two year old for education purposes in August but quite quickly obtained a virus from being in such close proximity to other horses (apparently this is common) and was tipped out to the paddock after being at the stables for about 10 days. As a yearling he was a very heavy set colt and the decision was made to give the old boy the snip snip (gelded) and he was aloud to mature in the paddock for around 3 months. He would have got too heavy if we didn’t and would have been the full man but definitely not a fast racehorse.

He came back into the stable after the 3 months and he looked magnificent, streamlined and more athletic and was starting to look physically like a racing gelding would.  So coming back into Bjorn’s I was hopefully that we might get to a trial after he learnt what all this racing business was about. Unfortunately though he was psychically not developed enough and his bones couldn’t handle the stresses put on his young body and become shin sore after a couple of weeks of light trot and canter work. It’s not uncommon that this occurs in young horses and the decision was made to send him out again.

Back into Bjorn in the autumn and the unrealistic dream of owning a slipper winner had passed me by for 2016. He had matured more with the time and looked physically more robust and normally as a later season two year old there is hope that you can get to the races. He quickly became shin sore again in late May and was sent out to again eat grass and have the sun on his back. It was about this time I started to contemplate whether or not that KSM would ever be physically capable of handling the stresses of racing. The trainer was quite surprised at how quick he did become shin sore considering the light workload he placed the horse under. I started to think about it in a different way, I started thinking about all the positive things that have happened with surrounding the purchase of this horse. I had enjoyed the emails and phone calls about this horse and taking photos with/of him, it was never about winning lots of money or him being the next Black Caviar. Don’t get me wrong that would be nice, it was just so special to achieve a goal I had for such a long time in owning a share and directly or indirectly be involved in such an incredible animal. Having accepted the fact that in all likelihood Denny wouldn’t get the races, it made the next phases so much more enjoyable, every small step was one of excitement rather than a pressure based experience pushing towards the goal of him getting to race.

So we returned from the paddock in late July 2016 as a near three year old looking overweight and wooly due to his winter coat. They changed the spelling farm this time around and honestly wasn’t entirely happy with the condition he returned in. Our boy loves his feed and can put on weight quite quickly and hold that condition. Over the next 2.5 month everything just started falling into place. He was handling the workload without an ounce of soundness issues and quickly progress to a jump out at Warwick Farm. Two weeks later we were at Kembla grange trialing over 800m running fourth a couple of lengths of Group class performers in Ammirata and Man of Choice. I can’t explain how nervous and excited I was to be trackside watching my horse at full flight galloping down that Kembla straight. It was exhilarating. He trialed well considering it was his first public outing, was very green cornering and running around in the straight but I liked how he flattened out when asked for a supreme effort from MR persuader (whip). A fortnight later (Sep14th) he trialed at Warwick farm over the same distance but was less impressive. Blake Shinn rode him and commented he was quite one paced and was a 1300m plus horse. It’s not ideal that a racehorse hasn’t got a turn of foot but horses have won races without one. From what we have seen from the trials he is no Winx, but I think if placed right could be at least competitive in races. With the soundness issues we have had everything is a bonus.

And now I am here, writing this on the morning KSM/Denny will be getting prepared to float to Hawkesbury to compete in a 1000M maiden at 2:20PM. I am normally someone who get super nervous before sporting events or public speaking type of things but I will say I am more excited than nervous about todays race. I am so grateful to own a share in this horse and he has brought me so much happiness from just being the animal he is. As someone who has his own YouTube channel tipping horses, I know how to do form. KSM is a 1400M horse in a 1000M race at Hawkesbury and is likely to run midfield at best. There is a couple of nice types in the race so looking at the exposed form I would be extremely happy if we could run third.

This whole experience has reiterated how pointless worrying about the things we can’t control is. The horses natural ability and the things Bjorn has taught him will determine how good a racehorse KSM will be when its all said and done.

I am going to turn up in a nice suit, cheer loudly and leave the rest up to the powers that be, thats what i can control.

Big love,

Nath.