By Duane Ranger
Calvert trainer, Warren Hinze, was thrilled just to have two starters line up at a Saturday, Albion Park meeting two nights ago, but to quinella the third event was one of his career highlights.
“I spent 33 years in the Fire Service, and the horses give me something to wake up for in my retirement. I’ve always been a hobby trainer, and have always loved standardbreds.
“I would have been happy just winning the race, but to run one-two was a real buzz. It’s something I won’t forget in a hurry,” the 64-year-old said.
Hinze thought he would go close with the red hot $1.55 favourite, Cobbler Lane (Adam Richardson), but $24.90 outsider, Underthekilt and Matt Elkins snuck along the passing lane to get the decision by 1.2 metres.
Underthekilt paced the 2,138m mobile in 2:36.1 (mile rate 1:57.5). His sectionals were 30.2, 31.9, 28.5, and 28.6.
It was the 6-year-old Enrique - Riverboat Doll gelding's ninth win in 98 starts. He has also placed 17 times and banked $41,970 in purses.
The stable quinella was $18.80.
Hinze, who owns the striking black pacer, has had him since he made his race-day debut at Redcliffe in April 2016.
"A good mate of mine, Doug Manger, who bred him, asked me if I wanted Underthekilt when he was a yearling colt. I told him 'I don't think so', because I only had fillies at the time. Then I had a re-think and said if you geld him, I might consider it.
"Doug said he would have him gelded the following week and sure enough he arrived with me at Calvert not long after,” Hinze said.
Manger was delighted for his buddy.
“I’m so happy for Warren because I couldn't find a home for Underthekilt, and due to unforeseen circumstances, I had a month to get rid of him.
“I have owned horses for 30 years, I had a really nice horse called Enrique of Malacca (18 wins and $68,236), so I really was attached to the Enrique breed.
“I put my Riverboat King mare, Riverboat Doll, to Enrique. Initially no-one wanted him, but Lacey (Hinze) who trains for me now, convinced her Dad to take him,” Manger said.
He said the horse’s name came via the business he owned and operated at Booval.
“Warren named him ‘Underthekilt’ because my company makes kilts and supplies them to pipe bands throughout the world. I am just so happy to see him winning races for Warren,” Wanora-based Manger said.
Hinze said he liked the Enrique breed and was always happy to try stallions that weren’t as high profile as say Bettor’s Delight, Art Major, or Mach Three.
“I’ve got three horses in work. The third is a little 3-year-old I bred named Just Roman. He’s appropriately named because he’s by Caesar Augustus and is out of my three-win, Aces N Sevens mare, Josephine Shannon.
“He’s only had a couple of unplaced starts this month. His mother has also left a Changeover yearling filly and is back in foal to Ohoka Punter.
“He’s an untried first-year stallion, but that’s the way I like it. I thought he was worth a crack because he was a top pacer (27 wins and $1.1m), who was by Bettor’s Delight,” Hinze said.
He said Cobbler Lane (six wins), who was by Lincoln Royal (known as Sir Lincoln in NZ), was his best pacer and the one with the brightest future.
“Lincoln Royal won an Auckland Cup and has left a few good ones on both sides of the Tasman. Cobbler Lane is a very nice pacer who should win a few more races. He ran a huge race on Saturday and was lucky not to be beaten,” Hinze said.
Hinze said one of the best horses he has trained over the years was the brown Fake Left mare, Azzura Miss.
"She won 20 races. Her daughter, Wecanonlyhope (by Life Sign) is trained by Lacey at Haigslea. She goes okay too and has won 12 races."
Hinze said he wasn't able to watch his two pacers do the business on Saturday night.
"I was at our rugby league reunion on the Gold Coast. Our Terang Roosters side won the premiership in 1978 and had a few laughs with some of the boys. The quinella made my night,” the former second-row forward said.
Meanwhile, the individual highlight of the night came from Australia’s top trainer, Grant Dixon, who conditioned the last three winners on the programme, and in doing so shot to the top of the national training premiership with 18 wins.
His hattrick came via Classie American (R6), Brads Luck (R7), and Southern Alps (R9).
Dixon drove the former two, while his employee Paul Diebert got the $28.30 outsider ($5.10 place) home in the last – after tipping it to Racing Queensland via video four races earlier.
In fact, Diebert had another good night at the office, also steering the Wayne Graham trained Justalittle Torque to win the fourth race by an increasing 11.6 metres - as a $1.90 favourite.
A day earlier at the same venue he reined the Adam Sanderson trained Dream to Share to win at odds of $33 and $7.10.