Powell hopeful Gotta Be First can win again at Toowoomba

By Glenn Davis

It’s fair to say the aptly named Gotta Be First is momentarily hobby trainer Lynda Powell’s favourite horse.

Powell normally has two or three horses in work at Toowoomba but with two out in the spelling paddock, Gotta Be First is the only horse currently in her stables.

Gotta Be First will be bidding for back-to-back wins in the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1625 metres at Toowoomba on Saturday following a first-up win at Clifford Park earlier this month.

Powell, who turns 73 this year, is now retired and admits training is more for enjoyment these days than a serious business.

“I normally have two or three in work but a couple are out spelling so he’s the only one I’ve got in work,” Powell said.

“My husband, Don, passed away last year with bone cancer so that steadied things down a bit.

“Don used to train horses and was a real estate agent for a while.

“For the last little while my horses have had to take second place.”

Powell was a former health information officer at St Vincent hospital before working for the past 15 years as a sleep technician.

“I used to look after the snorers and do the home studies and set up sleep apnea patients on their CPAP therapy and report back to the doctors,” she said.

“Show horses have probably been my forte over the years.

“I still have my stallion, Regal Banquet, but he’s retired after being unbeaten for 10 years at the Brisbane and Sydney shows.

“Show horses have been very much a part of our lives and my two daughters and four grandchildren all ride.”

Gotta Be First has won six races for Powell in a career spanning 40 starts.

“He’s been a very sound horse and very honest,” she said.

“I’m expecting him to go well again as he’s working well and looks well.”

Powell rates Time To Exceed as one of her best horses she has trained since taking out her licence 40 years ago.

“Time To Exceed was a very talented mare and won five in a row in places like Toowoomba and the Gold Coast a few years ago,” she said.

“Racing has been more of an enjoyment thing as a sideline to the show horses.”