Anendra Singh: Tanner sorts out problem child

Only one thing stood in the way of a Hastings trainer ushering a horse, Flemington, into a dog tucker truck - Lucy Tanner.

"Guy Lowry got rid of him because he was a bad apple. He'd had a gutsful of him," says Manawatu trainer Tanner of the 7-year-old gelding who will start from the No13 gate of the group one NZ Bloodstock Insurance race at 5.07pm in the final chapter of the three-part Rush Munro's Hawke's Bay Spring Racing Carnival tomorrow.

Born on Melbourne Cup day with Hastings breeders Graham and Isabell Roddick "foaling" him, Lowry and his in-laws, Di and Tom Pearce, of Taupo, named Flemington appropriately but it seems the progeny of the dam, Song, was a problem child.

In fairness to Lowry he and his stable hands "put a fair bit of time and effort" into him but to no avail.

"We had our turn with him but he was a difficult horse," Lowry explains.

Stable hand Siobhan Tanner just happened to be looking for a horse for her sister and trainer Lucy Tanner, in Palmerston North, so she put her feelers out and Lowry obliged.

As it turned out, Lucy Tanner persevered with Flemington who gradually responded favourably. So much so that he won the Lynn Electrical Hawke's Bay Gold Cup 2200m race in Hastings in April this year.

Remarkably, Flemington will race in the 2040m spring classic tomorrow in his maiden group one race with jockey Mark Hills, of Cambridge, in the saddle.

So what brought out a sense of civility in Flemington?

"The big stable environment didn't appeal to him," Tanner says. "From the day I got him I felt sorry for him."

Lowry concurs: "He needed a change so we chose well."

Besides, the Hastings trainer is over the moon that if Flemington continues to excel then it's a win-win situation because "we still have the mare".

Tanner's approach includes one-on-one attention and taking him to the beach.

Asked to describe Flemington's demeanour, the 44-year-old paints an image of "a child with his own mind" but stops short of labelling him a spoilt brat.

"He's very wary of things. Piss him off and he'll dump you as quick as he looks at you."

Tanner, who attributes her skills to Awapuni trainers Eric Temperton and Laurie Christensen emphasise the need to tread gingerly when he's in a mood but she has no qualms about him on race days.

"He loves Griffins gingernut biscuits and no other brand so I have them stocked up all the time.

Besides, "female trainers have a softer touch than men".

Hills is now his permanent jockey and Tanner feels his placid personality appeals to the mount.

"He doesn't hassle him and knows him very very well."

Needless to say Tanner is bracing herself for her maiden voyage into a group one race.

So, is she sleeping well at night?

Tanner cracks up before replying: "I work hard every day so when I get home I'm pretty tired and sleep like a baby."

She feels it's a great time for a rookie because the nerves won't take a hammering too much tomorrow because "it's not an overly strong field".

It'll, no doubt, be a life-changing experience to win and Lowry reassures he won't be left gobsmacked either.

Tanner, who'll be happy with a podium placing, has bracketed Flemington for the listed Feilding Cup on November 3 and desperately wants to win the group 2 New Zealand Cup in Christchurch on November 17.

The good 3 rated Hasting track suits Flemington and rain won't bother him provided it doesn't become heavy.

"No 13 [barrier draw] isn't ideal but Flemington got some great gate speed so he'll run into the home straight pretty sorted out.

"He'll either go forward or sit back and let others go forward," she says comfortable in his ability to finish strongly.