KEY POINTS:
Dreams die hard, particularly in horse racing.
Mark Todd is turning his back on his successful Cambridge training establishment for the quieter life of Rangiora.
He says when he gave up as one of the true world greats of the equestrian field, he never intended getting into the mainstream of thoroughbred racing.
Many would say that when you possess the determination and gritty edge to take multiple Olympic golds you could never just dip your toe into something as competitive as horse racing.
But Todd says he was thrust there by winning the Oaks with Bramble Rose.
"That happened by accident, I never intended becoming a public trainer, I only ever wanted to play around with a couple of horses of our own."
Todd has sold the family's multimillion-dollar Cambridge property and moves to Rangiora in March.
"It's a change in lifestyle," says Todd. "Carolyn [his wife] has always loved the South Island and we have a beach property in the Able Tasman, so we'll be closer to that."
His racehorses like Willy Smith and Saturday's Avondale winner Jonnybgood will remain in the north with other trainers, yet to be decided upon.
"We've got a few we own ourselves and we'll probably leave them up here as well. We'll take the broodmares. We've got half a dozen, including the mother of Pinot Grigio, and we'll probably acquire a couple more."
Todd completely dismisses the rumour he is heading back to equestrian competition.
"Not a chance. I might develop up the odd horse for sale, but no way will I be riding competitively again."
It might have been only a 2000m maiden that Jonnybgood won on Saturday, but he looks a 3-year-old of real promise.
He'd been unlucky and now that he's been stepped up to a middle distance his form should continue to spiral upwards.
He's starting to get Todd excited.
He's thinking about New Zealand's $750,000 premier classic run at Ellerslie in March. "We just might win the Derby before we go south."
It was said with a grin, but with enough conviction to know he meant it.
Competitive edges don't disappear easily.
* * *
The 2:06.40 2000m time for Saturday's York Cup told you everything you need to know about the form coming out of the race.
The crawl around for much of the race put the back runners out of play when the leaders sprinted and horses like Willy Smith (sixth) and Pretorius, who finished fourth, can be forgiven.
That's not to say the winner Philamor will not continue on.
Now injury-free, Philamor should win a very nice race through the summer for Tony Cole and his owners.
Cole said he wouldn't back the horse up into this weekend's Waikato Gold Cup, but target instead a race over the Ellerslie carnival.
* * *
Arica, winner of Saturday's $50,000 Challenge Stakes at Trentham is heading to the $200,000 Telegraph on the same track next month.
She will strike tougher opposition than she faced against just three horses on Saturday - Darci Brahma and Jokers Wild.
Plans were changed for Jokers Wild this week and will now include the Telegraph. The 1400m Waikato Draught Sprint was to have been his sole lead-up to the Australian Guineas in March.
"But we saw another group one sitting there and thought it might suit the horse," said stable manager Paul Moroney.
Jokers Wild has been given two weeks break since finishing second in the Levin Classic.
