Racing: Warm glow after Millnorm's easy winter win

If there has been an easier winter win than Millnorm's $35,000 Cornwall Handicap victory yesterday, please let everyone know.

If Jim Collett had strongly kicked Millnorm on the home bend, the comeback rider would have rolled off the back of his mount and perhaps ended his comeback.

This was the training performance from hell.

Millnorm won the 2003 Cornwall, had to be scratched after going sore last year and was set specifically for the race this campaign.

Trainer Richard Collett deserves some real accolades.

He was reluctant, as always. "He's a terrific horse. He might be rising 10, but he's as good as he ever was."

Owner Pat Millen deputised for her partner Marilyn Hoggard, who flew to Brisbane to support New Zealand colt Darci Brahma in Saturday's Sires Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm

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Allan Sharrock should have been delighted with producing the Go Thenaki, Don't Ya Lovett quinella result at Ellerslie yesterday.

He wasn't.

The Taranaki trainer and fellow owners Butch Glover and Bob Lovett couldn't resist the $5 price on Don't Ya Lovett on Sunday night. They emptied out.

Don't Ya Lovett got no favours in running - he finished third and was promoted to second - and in keeping with the vagaries of horse racing, Go Thenaki was in the perfect spot throughout the race.

Stable apprentice Vanessa Johnston felt she could have beaten Go Thenaki had Don't Ya Lovett not drawn the No 1 barrier.

"I spent the whole race trying to work him off the inside and you use a lot of energy doing that."

The placings were changed because runner-up Rushanwin lugged in on top of Don't Ya Lovett from the 300m to 75m off the winning post, by which stage Don't Ya Lovett had been moved in five horse widths and in behind his stablemate.

It was clear the movement cost Don't Ya Lovett second place, but Johnston did not believe it cost her a win.

The heavy, testing conditions made it extremely difficult to make ground on the leaders from back in the field in the final 400m.

Go Thenaki was in the perfect spot on the bend and Don't Ya Lovett still had ground to make up. The latter is definitely one to follow.

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Bill Borrie was a long way from being downcast when Miss Potential finished 21 lengths last at Ellerslie yesterday.

The million-dollar mare could hardly have been expected to shine in yesterday's conditions in her first start since breaking down last November.

"I told the young rider [Salemon Saad] that if she started to feel the pinch, or she faltered, to ease her out of it. He did exactly what I asked of him."

Miss Potential has had horrendous leg problems through her career, but appeared to pull up well.

"All her joints are cool," said Borrie an hour later.

Miss Potential is likely to race in Australia again soon.

"She has to go there to be mated in the spring, so she may as well have a race or two on the way through.

"The tailend of the Brisbane carnival might come up a bit soon for her."

Borrie said he had yet to make a decision on mating Miss Potential with Giant's Causeway or Redoubt's Choice.

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Part-owner Narendra Balia knew which part of Kabikushi Kabigum was on display when the outsider won the last race at Ellerslie yesterday.

Kanikuski Kabigum is Indian for "Sometimes happy, sometimes sad".

There were no sad faces after the horse won at better than $20 for Balia, a pharmacist, and fellow owners Saras Solanki and Vinod Ranchhod.

The Frank and Craig Ritchie stable produced the quinella with Stella Anne finishing second.