By BARRY STREET
Michael Walker twice demonstrated at Te Awamutu why he is making New Zealand racing history as the only first-season apprentice to win a jockeys' premiership.
The Waitara whiz kid already has nearly all the skills of more senior riders and past champions.
Not the least of those would be his knack of coaxing just a wee bit more from a tiring, apprently beaten horse.
The Waipa Racing Club's meeting at Te Awamutu on Saturday had a good turnout of racegoers, most of whom expected the usual local domination.
Gary Grylls and Linda Ballantyne, who ride trackwork at Te Awamutu, showed up as the leading two jockeys at Waipa meetings this season.
Also, the Debbie and Graeme Sanders team and Robert Priscott seemed well enough represented to retain their 1-2 positions as the leading trainers for the season on their home track.
But it was no day for parochialism. The Sanders team's best chance, 2-year-old Tsar Omar, was scratched because of a stone bruise.
So the followers of the locals went home wounded - and even more in awe of Michael Walker.
It was the first time for ages that the local trainers and jockeys had been forced to accept no better than minor placings.
Walker was not regarded as any genius the first time he rode at Te Awamutu, on May 31.
But it was a different story on Saturday because he was more aware of the idiosyncrasies of the turning track.
"I learned a lot the first time I was here. It's a funny little track," he said after scoring on his first mount of the day, 2-year-old Danceforme.
Even his co-traveller, Bob Sharrock, father of his boss, Allan Sharrock, liked that ride.
Danceforme went straight to the front and seemed to float round the home turn while all his rivals were scrambling and being scrubbed up.
It was as though Danceforme had a mouse instead of a mortal over his withers. The balance, poise and unison of horse and rider was perfect.
Co-trainer Keith Hawtin could not have been more chuffed because it took the team he trains in partnership with Graeme Rogerson to within one win of Mark Walker's leading total of 53 for the New Zealand trainers' premiership.
"I was away on holiday when Michael rode Danceforme to a weakening sixth at Hawera [on June 22] and didn't know that the horse had missed a few days work," Hawtin said.
"After I got home and found out about that I promised Michael a better result next time."
Saturday's win was a bonus for Danceforme's connections, Hawtin said, because the horse could be expected to show much more as a 3-year-old and a stayer than as a 2-year-old.
"One more race this season, though, wouldn't harm him. Depending on how he comes through this race, he could have a go at the Ryder Stakes at Otaki - hopefully with Michael on him again.
"His ride on the horse today was a classic," Hawtin said.
Mark Sweeney had the chance last Monday to become the only successful local jockey on Saturday but turned down the mount of Hangover Harry in the Windsor Park Stud Te Awamutu Cup.
As luck would have it, Sweeney's choice, Te Poi Spirit, was unsuited by a drying of the track from heavy to soft and then an upgrading on raceday to easy.
Takanini trainer Carolin Pomare hardly believed her ears when within minutes of Sweeney's turning down Hangover Harry Walker rang her seeking the ride.
Pomare admitted on Saturday that she did not give her class four horse much chance of finishing closer than sixth against so many better performed horses.
What is more she would have preferred rain on the day and a reversal of the drying conditions.
Fitness won the $15,000 cup for Hangover Harry in a blanket finish with Velodium, Toppy, Dollars 'N Gold and Aide De Camp, Michael Walker claimed.
"Sometimes," he said, "whatever the track, it is surprising what fit horses can do."
Not everyone would agree with that summation.
At least 50 per cent of the reason Hangover Harry stuck his head in front at the right time for a long neck-nose-nose decision was undoubtedly the coolness of his rider.
At the home turn the horse was three wide, under pressure, and was not going to finish closer than his trainer predicted.
His second wind undoubtedly came because there was a cool kid on top who decided, okay, no panic, let's get properly balanced and make a late lunge.
Racing: Waitara whiz kid spoils the usual hometown party
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