Racing: Four tips from a true expert on staying lucky

When Dave Nicholson reveals a Dummy's Guide to Racehorse Owning, it pays to listen. "We're lucky bastards, no doubt about it," says Nicholson, explaining a remarkable winning run.

Yeah but Dave, that's hardly a tip. How do you become THIS lucky? Some owners spend decades searching for a winner. Prominent characters - like Auckland Racing Club chairman Lyn Stevens, for instance - have never had a group one winner.

You're a small-time bloke with horses who have won three group one races in the past three months. Your latest horse, Xcellent, could be a legend in the making. Don't give us that luck spiel.

Okay. Tip two.

"It's like rugby league," continues Dave, bringing up his favourite subject. Any young league player should go to the club with the good coach. I'd say to anyone getting into the racing game, go to the top trainer."

Fair enough. But is that it?

Next. Tip three.

"We like stayers. I was told once that only 20 per cent of horses stay. I don't even know if that's true.

"But why race against the 80 per cent that sprint. Get my meaning?" Maybe Dave, although your stats seem a little flaky.

Tip four is the big one - persistence, through thick and thin.

"You're either in the penthouse or the outhouse," says Dave, a man of remarkably average build despite his nickname of the "Doughnut".

Nicholson and his mate Phil Heath are in the penthouse, and soaring. The pair, who manage a finance company division, own 5 per cent each of the Mike Moroney-trained Xcellent - which is like owning 100 per cent in a sports fantasy.

Xcellent could be our biggest racing star since Sunline after winning its first four races, including the NZ Derby and weight-for-age Darley Stakes.

If the bay gelding lives up to his favouritism and wins the $2 million AJC Derby at Randwick in Sydney today, he will emulate the 1986 trans-Tasman derby feat of the idolised Bonecrusher. The Caulfield and Melbourne Cups beckon, plus the Cox Plate and Japan Cup.

Of course, Nicholson - who with wife Robyn headed to Sydney yesterday - started off a few floors below this in the early 1990s.

He set up the Gold and Blue syndicate around characters from the Mt Albert Lions rugby league club, plus rugby man Heath, after writing to seven trainers for advice.

Only Moroney replied, which took care of tip two. Get yourself a good trainer.

Moroney had a horse to lease, and The Lions Roar won six races and over $200,000.

Next, the outhouse. The Party Lions, bought for $10,000, attracted a $200,000 offer. But the syndicate hung on, it was savaged by another horse, and sold for $2000.

The Mighty Lions, which they leased, brought a return to the penthouse - winning six races and around $300,000 - although it disappointingly missed a Melbourne Cup start by two places.

Nicholson grimaces though at the mention of the The Mt Albert Lions, which has just broken down at its first start. Injuries and jockeys' excuses. They're the back breakers.

"It's a great leveller this racing game," says Nicholson.

"But we're not in it for the money, even though we're well ahead. We get together in the off season, have a few beers, it's our summer sport.

"I pop in and see the horses now and then. You pat them before the race and pat them after. But the fun is being part of a group.

"When The Mighty Lions won the Avondale Cup there were 10 owners but 35 people on the dais. There were guys coming out of the crowd you hadn't seen for five years. Everyone's welcome for a beer with us afterwards."

The Gold and Blues are a raucous bunch easily measured in decibels at the birdcage after a win. They include Mike "Macca" McKenzie, Peter "Nutter" Whitehouse, Jenny Rogers, Paul "Hearm" Hurley, Peter "Charlie Pig" Griffiths, Wayne "Ernie" Trainor and Owen "Owie" White.

The nicknames take some explaining, but in Nutter's case suffice to say that during vigorous pub celebrations after the Avondale Cup, he "misplaced" the $3000 trophy.

"The barmaid tapped me on the shoulder an hour later and asked 'do you own this?'" says Nicholson.

Only Nicholson and Heath jumped in when Moroney's brother Paul formed the syndicate which owns Xcellent, a $45,000 buy. But the Gold and Blue mob are right behind their two mates, and won't be far from Nicholson's thinking at Randwick today.

Nor will the memory of his brother Robbie, who passed away on January 7 at the age of 45, 17 years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Robbie Nicholson, an original syndicate member, was well known in rugby league circles as a manager of Mt Albert teams, including those coached by former Kiwi Gary Prohm.

The illness wasted Robbie Nicholson's body, but his spirit and determination were legendary. Dave Nicholson chokes a little as he remembers the joy Xcellent's Boxing Day Derby win brought Robbie.

"When Xcellent won he sent me all these emails and it was great for him - it kept him really interested," says Nicholson. "He's definitely still part of our syndicate."