The secret to staying youthful

He might be a rising 10-year-old who just won his eighth race at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night, but Danke is fitter than a marathon runner, and jogs around his Cambridge paddock and track like a 2-year-old colt.

That’s the opinion of his Waikato trainer, Geoff Martin, who has now trained Danke to his most successful season of racing since he made his debut with a third at Addington Raceway for Murray Edmonds on July 201, 2012.

Martin, who is a drain layer in Cambridge, has trained 11 winners since 2007 – and his three wins with Danke at Manawatu (October 11), Cambridge (May 18) and Cambridge on Thursday night (June 8) has ensured the most successful season for both man and horse.

“I claimed him off Mark Jones for $4,000 last June. He's a super old horse but to look at him you wouldn't think he's nine. He's very fit and very reliable.

"Every time he goes to the races it's a holiday for him. He jogs between 15km and 20km a day behind my Ute, so racing is nothing for him. Kyle (Marshall) drove him well last night," Martin said.

Marshall had Danke first away from his ace draw and they led all the way before being eye-balled by runner-up Sir Henry Castleton and Alicia Harrison in the straight.

But the gutsy ole Sundon gelding lifted himself off the canvas to fight back and win by three quarters of a length. He was the $9.20 third favourite and trotted the 2700m stand in 3;32.3 (mile rate 2:06.5) and came home in 60.7 and 30.7.

"Kyle knows how to drive him. He will start again on Thursday in the boys race and if the new junior driver hits him it will be the last time he's on him.

"Danke doesn't need to be hit. He's fit enough and the stick would be detrimental to him," Martin said.

But Martin believed fruit and vegetable ‘smoothies’ given to the trotter for the last two months by his daughter Leanne had ensured changes in the horse’s performance.

“Leanne’s been feeding him kale, spinach and banana smoothies and since he’s been taking them he’s had five seconds and two wins.

“The kale and spinach gives him iron and the bananas I believe have helped him get around the corners a lot better. I swear by it,” Martin said.

He also believed new shoes had helped Danke record his best season yet.

"He hits a knee a bit and has a single spreader but his shoes are the key. He has eight ounce inside-out shoes on the front and size nine alloy level grips on the back.

"His little friend 'Smurfy' is another reason why he's so happy. The little fella is only about nine hands but he travels with him everywhere. They are mates and I believe a happy horse will always do better than an unhappy one," Martin said.

He also paid a tribute to the current rating system.

"It suits a horse like Danke down to the ground because if he wasn't rated where he is then he would be a C4 trotter racing off 40 metres.

"And he's way better than that. He's won almost $80,000 and hasn't finished yet," 59-year-old Martin said.

"Of course he will be back next season. he's fit, he's happy, and eats everything. Oh and he loves racing," he added.

Danke is owned by Martin’s wife Alison and was bred by K R Bimler, Mrs K S Edmonds, and Mrs M K Bimler.

Duane Ranger