Racing: Pender trains four winners

Three months ago Jim Pender gave up a lifetime habit of smoking.

He rued that decision several times at Tauranga on Saturday, after producing his first winner, then after his second and again after his third, then finally just before his fourth.

"Yes, I had a few urges to grab a smoke," said Pender after recording his career-first bag of four winners in a day.

"I've four times had three winners and a second on a day."

Pender said the toughest non-smoking moment was just after saddling the last of his runners, Lily L'Amour in Race 8.

"We'd had the three winners and this was a R80 race and I'd scratched her from the R70 that she was eligible for and I noticed she was favourite.

"Yeah, there was a bit of pressure on - a smoke would have been nice."

Well ridden by Michelle Wenn, who also had a great day, Lily L'Amour got the money in a tough finish with the main dangers, Mathias and Kurosawa.

This was probably always going to end up being a top week for Jim Pender's Tauranga stable.

Midweek his 19-year-old apprentice Amelia Denby had her first raceday ride at Dargaville and won the Northern Wairoa Hotel Apprentice Cup on longshot Duke.

"I've had a few milestones and firsts in my time," said Pender.

"Lance O'Sullivan had his last raceday ride on one of my horses, Ginza Pearl, and won on it here at Tauranga.

"I'm also probably the first, and possibly only, one to have my truck stolen full of horses and had it rolled.

"I'm the first to have one of my horses leave the gates still wearing a barrier blanket."

Until Saturday this hadn't been a milestone year for Pender.

In the nine months of the season so far he'd produced only three winners.

"I've had a lean run. I've had a rash of bad draws, a few rides I've been a bit disappointed in, but when your luck changes, you just run with it."

He said he didn't go into Saturday thinking he could win four races if everything went to plan.

"That's not something you do, but I was happy with my horses and I'd have been very disappointed if they hadn't all run well."

Angelwithattitude won the 3-year-old race, Miss Phoenix took the 1600m maiden, Cassabella Lane beat well-fancied Oriental Lad a nose in the R90 1400m and Lily L'Amour's turn came three races later.

Pender had been concerned about the wet conditions for Cassabella Lane, Lily L'Amour and Son Of Pupil, who finished eighth behind Cassabella Lane.

"But I thought their class would help overcome a little of that."

Lily L'Amour, Cassabella Lane and Son Of Pupil will now be spelled, despite Saturday's winning form.

"I've always believed in spelling them when they're feeling good."

With a bleak year now well behind him Pender is looking forward to the new season, eight yearlings to work on, a new promising apprentice and his 26-year-old son Jared's professional golfing career to follow.

Jared Pender missed the cut by one in his first professional tournament, the Victorian Open a few months ago.

"Jared cuts grass for the horses every day and works at the stables in the afternoon and concentrates on his golf between times."

Pender's older son Kelly rides work and tutors at a local college in the afternoons.