THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN - TWO STAND-OUTS DOING THE SUNSHINE COAST PROUD

By Graham Potter | Sunday, December 28, 2014

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

So here we are, right in the middle of the festive season … a time when most of us allow ourselves the freedom to step back from the stresses and the strains of everyday life and enjoy a time ‘away from it all’ for just a short period until the real world returns to re-establish its rigid routine.

Primarily it is a time for family and fun but it is also a time to reflect and in racing, as in all walks of life, that reflection of last twelve months will shine greater for some than for others.

As far as Sunshine Coast racing goes there were two standout achievers in 2014.

This year Natalie McCall wrote her name into the record books by becoming the first woman trainer to win the Stradbroke. As such it is an entry that can never be superseded or erased and it will become a fitting, lasting tribute to a trainer who achieved that distinction, with her tough-as-teak warhorse River Lad, with a humbleness that provided a perfect model of professional behaviour.

No manufactured hype beforehand. No ‘over the top’ celebrations after the result. Not a hint of any self-importance. Just pure professionalism, working hard with a small stable to get her best possible result without being intimidated by the purchase price tags of some of River Lad’s rivals or the presence of some powerful, big name stables in the race.

Everything McCall did to climb Queensland racing’s Everest, was done with a touch of class which speaks volumes for her work ethic, her expertise as a horsewoman and her good, family-grounded character.

The Stradbroke was McCall’s grand final triumph for the year, but her overall performance was just as solid with her impressive strike-rate underlining her ability to not only prepare a horse well but to place it to its best advantage.

She is doing herself proud.

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To call multiple Group 1 winning rider Damian Browne a ‘jockey’ would be doing him a disservice.

Rather, Browne is a true horseman … and, while his high profile triumphs and losses aboard Buffering has helped keep him in the limelight, it is his on-going everyday level of superior performance that makes him a standout.

His ‘horseman’ attribute invariably sees Browne working in harmony with his mount. The result of that is that often Browne’s horses seem keen to co-operate with the rider and give him what he wants.

That does not only apply in the finish, where Browne, more often than not, seems to have kept just enough in reserve for the final fight, but rather it applies to anywhere in the race where a race winning move might be required … getting across from a bad draw, switching across heels for a run etc.

At times you can only marvel how Browne does it.

Of course there are mistakes, but Browne makes less mistakes than most.

A video of ‘The best of Browne’ showing his quality in the saddle, from his tactical mind to his riding style, would make a good master-class for any aspiring rider.

The best race rider in Queensland?

Some will say ‘by far.’

Good enough to be one of the two Sunshine Coast standout achievers for 2014.

Absolutely!

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