KEY POINTS:
For nearly three years Garry Newham's mind has been pre-occupied with the Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings.
He's repeatedly dreamed of somehow coming back from his Gold Coast training base and avenging the 2004 defeat of the mighty Starcraft at the hands of Balmuse.
He knew it was a 500 to 1 longshot.
That was until he accepted the position as Graeme Rogerson's New Zealand training partner replacing Stephen Autridge, who is leaving next month to form a new training partnership.
Rogerson has just announced Newham's appointment and no one is happier than the Australian who impressed the New Zealanders with his quiet, determined approach when he brought Starcraft here for a Hastings campaign three years ago.
"I've got bad memories of missing out in the Kelt with Starcraft," said Newham from the Gold Coast yesterday. "Something like that makes you want to have another turn to makes things right.
"Now I just might get that opportunity."
Newham has always been a quiet achiever and typical of so many fine Australian horsemen who, because of lack of opportunities, battle around with a handful of horses and rarely make the headlines.
His big break came when Starcraft's owner, Queenslander Paul Makin, employed him as his private trainer and Starcraft got the train rolling. A year ago Newham and Makin parted ways.
"I had to re-establish myself," says Newham. "Fortunately I managed to get some of my original owners back, but mainly I've been breaking horses in and educating them."
Newham didn't simply fall in love with the Kelt Capital as New Zealand's richest horse race, he loved every element of racing this side of the Tasman.
"I love the countryside, the people and the way New Zealand racing is more casual and happier. Here it's become too demanding - it's push, push, push the whole time.
"Since I left with Starcraft I've toyed with the idea of returning to New Zealand to work in some capacity."
That opportunity came when Rogerson's team campaigning at the Queensland carnival were housed at the same Gold Coast stable Newham had his 10-horse team.
"I mentioned to Graeme that if any type of opportunity [in New Zealand] ever came up I'd be interested in looking at it.
"I couldn't believe it when a week later Graeme rang and told me Stephen had handed his notice in."
Newham flew over last Thursday and spent the day at Rogerson's Waikato base and fell in love with it.
"I couldn't get over quick enough. It's a great challenge, but I feel I'm up to it. It's a great set-up, it has a very good manager and the staff are wonderful."
Rogerson has some of the longest-serving staff in the industry.
"That says a lot about a person. A lot of big Australian stables don't get to know the names of their staff because they're not there long enough."
Newham hopes to be able to wind up his stable in the next week to 10 days and will spend a week with Rogerson's Sydney stable to understand the operation.
"I hope to be in New Zealand and will officially start on August 1."
He says a horse like Starcraft makes a horseman yearn for repeated success. "Winning the AJC Derby with him was an enormous thrill because I rate that race as one of Australia's finest. It makes you want to push to do it again."
So does getting beaten in New Zealand's richest race.
