Remarkably, that was Michael Walker's first race fall when he crashed from Deebee Belle in Saturday's $30,000 Soliloquy Stakes.
Perhaps even more remarkable, he was not injured when he hit the ground buried in the middle of a tightly packed field.
Walker did carry a sore back to the Beaumont races at Wingatui yesterday, but the incentive was there.
"That's my 63rd winner for the season," said Walker when he climbed off impressive winner So Lets, 40 minutes after crashing into the Ellerslie turf.
"At the same stage last season I was on only 13 wins."
Which gives the star a terrific chance of recording yet another record number of wins for the season.
One Way Street at Wingatui yesterday afternoon made it No 64.
If you marvel at Walker's talent, you have to marvel equally at his stamina. Okay, his age helps, but it cannot be easy coping with the attention, much less the stress of travel, to take in just about every available race meeting in New Zealand.
Walker rides at the Avondale Cup meeting on Wednesday. The last race is carded for 7.20 pm and the following afternoon he will ride Huge Demand in the $A200,000 Hawkesbury Cup in provincial New South Wales.
Huge Demand, the pre-post favourite, is a member of Graeme Rogerson's Sydney stable.
* * *
Terry Wenn makes no secret of the fact he rates Honor Bound the best horse he has trained.
"Not that I've had many top class horses, but this filly is something special," he said after a runaway win in the Racing Annual 1400 at Ellerslie.
Honor Bound sat outside the leader and bolted clear in the straight, confirming how unlucky she had been at Tauranga last start.
"Her work this week has been fantastic," said Wenn.
"She galloped 800m in 47 with 60-odd kilos on her back."
Wenn will aim Honor Bound for the $100,000 Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day and rates her a fine Oaks chance.
"Her mother, Amrica, finished second in the Oaks - it would be great to go one better."
* * *
Temperament can beat a stayer and Graeme Sanders admits he has a job on his hands with Lord Romar.
Sanders was delighted with the handsome chestnut's runaway Mercedes Derby Prelude win on Saturday, but knows his Derby job has only just began.
"Yes, he can be difficult," said Sanders as he watched rider Mark Sweeney have his problems getting the saddle off the horse as the weigh-in.
The fanfare of Boxing Day at Ellerslie is not the ideal place for a fizzy horse.
"It's all about management, as we'll have to do the best we can."
To avoid getting Lord Romar too wound up, Sanders will not run him again before the Derby.
After a couple of only fair runs, Ma Victoire showed something closer to her form when second to Lord Romar, and rider Peter Johnson felt she would improve even further as she develops as a stayer.
Favourite Komplete Kaos battled fairly into third and is almost certain to be spelled to develop further.
* * *
Run Forest Run is a potential star, certainly a very smart performer, in the making.
In only his second start he did a lot wrong on Saturday, but somehow found enough to beat another smart type in The Best Move.
The pair raced right away from the others as they staged an exciting duel. Run Forest Run looked certain to beat himself when he ducked in sharply towards the running rail in the closing stages.
Trainer Peter Hollinshead felt it was caused by the straight metal bit used on the horse for the first time, but rider Mark Sweeney said later that Run Forest Run resented being struck with the whip.
Run Forest Run is five and a classic example of the benefits of leaving horses to develop without the early pressure. Financially, no one can wait until horses are five these days, but the benefits are obvious.
Racing: Crashing rider keeps his eyes on the prize
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