Racing: Boom colt spooks rider by finding yet more gears

Hayden Tinsley does not scare easily.

But he was scared stiff when boom colt Darci Brahma moved around the $35,000 Fairview Ford Slipper field at half pace on Saturday.

He was wide-eyed at what he was experiencing.

And Tinsley was still terrified yesterday thinking about what should not have happened.

He was not the only one who spooked at the ease with which Darci Brahma shot from third last to equal first between the 600m and home turn with his rider trying to sit against him.

"I was saying to myself: 'Why am I going past these horses so easily - this shouldn't be happening.

"I'm doing half pace and I'm running past them.

"So much was going through my mind from the 800m. I shouldn't be doing this - something's wrong.

"And then when he straightened up he found another gear.

"No horse can do that."

Tinsley is one of New Zealand's best and most experienced riders, but on Saturday he sat in front of his locker in the Matamata jockeys' room completely stunned.

After a few minutes something took him back to the motivational speeches he took in Sydney last year, something that he believes has turned his life around.

He suddenly realised why he was frightened.

"I had this told to me: 'If a decision excites you or frightens you, it's a good decision.' My decision to ride this horse instead of a couple of others was clearly a good one. I was frightened on the home bend and that was obviously a good thing. I was excited."

Darci Brahma, last year's $1.1 million Karaka yearling, won on debut at Avondale on January 13, but looked a different horse.

Experience and reverting back to a left-handed track on which he is trained was a major part of that.

Tinsley has also won on another New Zealand juvenile star Wahid, but became very diplomatic when asked to compare the two.

"That would be a frightening decision. I would look at the horses and if I couldn't decide between the two, I'd look at the trainers and how much riding I would be doing for each of them in the future."

Yes, but ignoring your jockey business, which one?

"All I can say is that neither of them are rip and tear types. They both relax and quicken up when you want them."

Oh well, we'll have to wait until the $120,000 Ford Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes in two weeks.

Unfortunately for Tinsley, he won't be on either Darci Brahma or Wahid. He lost the ride on Wahid when he decided not to ride a stablemate of the colt's and trainer Allan Sharrock engaged Leith Innes for Wahid.

And Australian jockey Scott Seamer has been engaged for Darci Brahma for the Ellerslie event.

"That's really about looking forward to the Queensland carnival in the winter," said trainer Mark Walker on Saturday. "He will winter in the Queensland warmth and come back here to be prepared for the Hawkes Bay Guineas."

Darci Brahma looks to have untapped potential. His win on Saturday was achieved with sheer ability rather than natural speed and he gives the impression he will be a machine at 1600m and beyond.

The huge advantage for New Zealand racing is that this type of colt was previously always sold overseas at Karaka. Te Akau principal David Ellis, riding a wave in his thoroughbred syndication, took a punt and put up the $1.1 million in February last year, quickly filling a syndicate.

Ellis took another punt on the Danehill bandwagon this year and suddenly the face of racing at the young end in New Zealand has taken a giant upswing. These colts are not just exciting racehorses, they are wonderful stallion prospects.

Giant Volksraad juvenile Skyward used his long strides to propel him into second in the Fairview Ford Slipper and looks another youngster of rare staying potential.

Rider Allan Peard and trainer Bruce Wallace believe third-placed Master Regent will be better when tracks ease. It was a brave effort on Saturday.