By Mike Dillon
Is it pique or pain that causes Nahayan to deny herself the spot she could easily have as New Zealand's champion 3-year-old?
The question has to be asked after Nahayan's inglorious display on Saturday.
Her zigzag Derby third at least ruled out the contention her erratic running had been caused by Peter Johnson's whip.
That leaves only inexperience or pain. After the 1000 Guineas, Avondale Guineas and Derby, inexperience is starting to lengthen in odds.
So is it pain? Is the highly talented filly feeling discomfort when the pressure goes on in her races?
Co-owner and trainer Trevor McKee admits the filly has been "shouldery" - not entirely comfortable in a shoulder - for much of the last year. But he denies that is the cause of her problems.
"After she ran erratically in the Avondale Guineas we had her x-rayed from every conceivable angle and it showed nothing was physically wrong with her."
If it is discomfort, it is nothing like the pain Nahayan has caused Trevor and Stephen McKee and co-owner Brian Collins.
Watching Trevor McKee as the field crossed the finish line was an experience.
Like all long-time horsemen, he took the loss with dignity, but the devastation
was obvious, particularly as he thought Nahayan had still probably won.
He had to wait for the slow-motion television replay to confirm his agony. It was equal to the greatest disappointment McKee has had in a lifetime in the racing industry.
"The only thing that matches it was when I found out Flying Luskin hadn't won the 1990 Auckland Cup when from all angles it looked certain he had."
Such crushing disappointment has to have its release. While there were no recriminations, Trevor McKee asked, or suggested, that Nahayan may have run straighter had Johnson held her up for a little longer when she had drawn level with So Casual and El Duce at the 375m.
There were no recriminations in return, but it was clear Johnson was upset at
the suggestion he had been in any way responsible.
"I held her up for as long as I could," he said with feeling. "I could ride that race 100 times and there is nothing more I could have done to get her home. She simply beat herself."
Three or four lengths was the conservative margin Johnson said Nahayan would have won by if she had run straight.
So Casual's winning rider, champion Melbourne jockey Damien Oliver, had resigned himself to second money when he saw Nahayan draw level and put her head in front in the home straight.
"I thought you were going to run past us for sure," Oliver told Johnson afterwards in an attempt to console him.
The introduction of a set of blinkers is the McKee stable's next act for Nahayan for the $250,000 NZ Oaks at Trentham next month.
Horse Racing: What's the story with Nahayan?
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