Racing: South takes on Great Northern

Husband and wife training team of Allan and Judy Stalker with Joint Effort. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Trying something new in today's $85,000 Great Northern Hurdles isn't exactly perfect timing, but Joint Effort will do it.

The southern mare will be having her first start right-handed.

In 68 races, Joint Effort has not once taken a right-hand turn.

It's unlikely to matter.

Most horses train around a running rail, which generally sets them up for their preference for which way they like to race.

Joint Effort does her training around the sheep on the Mossburn farm of her part-owner and trainer Allan Stalker.

Left or right is no different.

It's fair to say the northern Southland country township hasn't produced a winner of a top grade race before Joint Effort, but that's not going to be a factor when the stamina index looms into the frame 800m out in New Zealand's premier hurdle race this afternoon.

Joint Effort staggered everyone with her fitness to plough - yes, literally plough - through the Riccarton mud to win the Grand National Hurdles by 22 lengths when the opposition were out on their collective feet.

It was a staying performance you rarely see.

It's close to impossible to get horses that fit on a training track without either sending them sour or getting them too light physically.

"The difference is when she's mustering the sheep she's working without knowing she's working," says Stalker.

Exactly. It's why Joint Effort is mentally content.

If the tough mare can bring the same game to Ellerslie she brought to Riccarton she is the one to beat.

You say if because despite the winning margin it was tough to see out the Riccarton distance.

Tack on to that a seven-hour float trip home to Mossburn then a four-day float ride to Auckland and she's done it tough.

But she is tough and, like most good race mares, is a dead-set bitch.

Stalker has a young horse, Total Justice, that he brought to Auckland solely as a travelling companion for Joint Effort.

"I actually feel sorry for him having to spend four days in the float with her.

"He's her mate, but that didn't stop her giving him a hell of a hiding in the paddock when I unloaded her at home after Riccarton."

Stalker took out a licence 10 years ago, his horse interest sharpened by a couple of relatives having raced two excellent mares in Bevlyn and Lynda Mary.

"It's our hobby and our sport, we don't take it too seriously."

They might if the "great wee stock horse" lifts today's big prize.