Sentimental win sets up intriguing championship final

Smart three-year-old Ourmatemenko (Downbytheseaside) bounced back to his scintillating best for a sentimental win to stake his claim on one of country Victoria’s biggest annual features, the Northern Region Championship at Ouyen yesterday (Sept 24).

The first round of heats were run at Swan Hill on Tuesday night, with round two at Ouyen. The $20,000 final will be run at Mildura this Saturday night (Sept 30).

Ourmatemenko was resuming from a four-month break at Swan Hill. A winner of six from nine career starts, he was predictably sent out a red-hot favorite. But all did not go to plan and the Charlton-trained pacer, who struck trouble after the start finished tailed out.

But he more than atoned at Ouyen, with concession reinswoman Abby Sanderson pinging him to the front and reeling off a 57.3 last half on the tight circuit to score by 11.5 metres.

“I couldn’t have been happier with him – thrilled really,” Sanderson said.

“Her got out of the gate well, settled pretty good and did it really easily, he had plenty left at the end.  It was great to make up for what happened at Swan Hill but it wasn’t really his fault, and it cost us any chance, but that’s racing,” she said.

The win was a sentimental one – the first since trainer Shane Sanderson’s good mate Menko, for whom the horse is named, passed away.

“Menko”, former rugby league pro and coach Craig Menkins, has been one of Sanderson’s most loyal supporters for more than 20 years, and in July lost his battle with an inoperable brain tumor aged just 50.

“I really wanted to do well as Swan Hill at his first start back and that didn’t work out.  But I as super thrilled to be able win second up.  It was a very sentimental win for all of us,” Abby said.

Abby is the regular driver for Ourmatemenko, and although she copped a suspension at Ouyen, is adamant she’ll be driving in final, and won’t be handing the reins to older brother Ryan.

“There’s no way!  He’s been asking for a drive on him for a very long time, and I’ve told him the only way he’d been getting on is if I get suspended.  But my time won’t start until after Saturday, so I’ll still be right,” she said.

“He will draw outside the back row because he’s the highest-assessed horse in the race.  On paper he’s the best horse in the race, but it’s going to be very tough for him. I’ll just have to drive him confidently and assess the tempo of the race.”

The other stable with a big hand in the final is the Bendigo-based Julie Douglas team, which has qualified four contenders for the Championship.

Heathbern Bruce, a winner of both heats, will again have every chance to dictate proceedings from another favorable draw under the preferential draw (NR) conditions.  But Swan Hill heat winner Rimu Valley also has appeal, and Roll With Ron and In The Paper were both placed in their heats.

The Douglas team has won the series several times previously, with Stop N Ask (2004); Art for Art Sake (2005); Miss Laura Jane (2008); Duke of Dundee (2021).

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink