By Jordan Gerrans
For a mare to only have her first race start as a six-year-old and break through for her maiden victory at age seven, there must be an enthralling tale behind the lightly-raced galloper.
“It is a big, big story, really,” Toowoomba trainer Harry Richardson said.
The veteran Darling Downs conditioner is talking about his mare Jazz.
The now seven-year-old collected the first triumph of her incredible journey last week at Dalby.
It came at just her eighth race start, all of which have occurred since May last year.
The Richardson stable – including the trainers wife Carolyn who owns the galloper – have been to hell back with their promising mare.
The problem was, every time the team thought they had her on the right track finally, something awful would put her on the sidelines for a year or more.
“She nearly died as a three-year-old with a high virus, we did not think we would save her,” Richardson remembers.
After almost losing her as a youngster, Jazz spent around a year in the paddock.
The Richardson stable and their veterinarian took all precautions they could but are still unsure what exactly she had and what brought on the near-deadly virus.
After a year or so, she was back in work at Clifford Park and nearing her debut run before she was struck down by another virus.
The second of the serious virus’ was not as bad as the first one, but it was still enough to create a significant setback.
Jazz was back on her feet within a week after the second virus hit, but they opted to take the safe approach and put her in the paddock again for a lengthy stint.
“We just forgot about her in the paddock,” Richardson says.
The daughter of Drumbeats finally had her first career effort as a six-year-old at Gatton last year.
And, it was boom apprentice jockey Jasmine Cornish who steered Jazz to her maiden victory at Dalby last week to hand the Richardson’s one of their most satisfying victories in their time in racing.
“It felt like a bit of satisfaction after all the battles we went through with her,” the stalwart trainer said.
“To get her to win a race, you enjoy ones like that.
“We knew she could gallop and it was a challenge to get her right, and we will try and see if we can get another one or two with her in the country or provincial level.”
It is Richardson’s wife Carolyn who can take much of the credit for sticking with their troubled mare.
There were a number of times when Harry thought about throwing the towel in, but Carolyn, who owns the mare, was having none of that.
As there was no other owners to pressure a return on training fees, Carolyn and Harry were able to be as patient as they needed to be.