(Feature image: Courtesy of Rising Sun Photography)
Welcome to this weeks racing preview. Moving forward it will take on a slightly different format where Ryan will select an owner who has a runner on the weekend to get an insight into your ownership journey and about life in general for Rhett Cook to interview.
To begin we have selected Ryan’s long time friend Matt Harvey who has shares in several horses including Stella Notation.
RC: Hi Matt, thanks for giving me the time today to discuss your racing and life journey.
MH: Thanks mate
RC: So tell me when did you and Ryan become friends? Was it in school?
MH: No not in school but not long after, probably around 19 or 20 years of age
RC: Originally you worked for John Hawkes when he had stables here, how long did you work for him for, and when John left did you start working for Ryan’s dad David straight away?
MH: I actually started with David working at the stables, then I worked for John when I was about 17 for the last 3 to 3 ½ years that John had a stable here in SA. After John closed I then went to work for Toll and was out of the industry for a while.
RC: The Balfour stable is quite the family affair for you as your wife Lisa also worked for David where you met at Beau George Lodge. You also work full time for Toll on afternoon shift, how do you juggle working some early mornings at the track, plus some raceday strapping duties, and the odd float drive to the hills to pick up and drop off spelling horses?
MH: I don’t sleep a lot.. I get home from Toll at 12.30am sleep from 2.30am to 5am then I try and sleep again from about 10am to 3pm before being back at work at 4pm. I work most Saturdays strapping. I also occasionally get a call about 3.30-4am if I hear my phone if they are short staffed. I rarely say no to Ryan. There are days where I may have worked a couple of mornings in a row where I will sleep all day before work.
RC: When did you start owning horses, and how many do you now have shares in?
MH: My first horse was Cool Saab with Peter Blanch, I did a little bit of work for him and got involved that way. My first horse with Ryan was Ruby For Henry who won a metro maiden. I have been lucky with ownership where every horse I have had a share in has won except for Pomodoro but there is still time for that to change. Currently I have shares in 8 horses with Ryan.
RC: Now you and Lisa have three children, do any of them want to follow you into the racing game when they get older? Or even now?
MH: Not yet.. Jake is light and skinny so maybe when he is older. Ella likes going with Lisa to ride her horse Lou. Down the track I may get them into the stables for pocket money and to learn the value of work, but I will leave it up to them.
RC: Whats been you biggest thrill in racing firstly as a strapper and then an owner?
MH: As a strapper – I got to strap two SA Derby winners for Cliff Brown Cheviot (1996) and Markham (1997) I also strapped Silver Baron when 2nd in the Derby and 3rd in the Adelaide Cup in 2002.
As an owner – Lil Kontra when 4th in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, and just her in general.
RC: As an owner, is there any one race that you would love to win?
MH: The Goodwood. It would be nice to win a home Group 1.
RC: Now Stella Notation is in on Saturday, she has drawn barrier 9 of 9 with Alana on board, what do you think of her chances?
MH: Haha nothing unusual outside. Although it may suit her out there. She has plenty of ability but has issues. Dylan Caboche has done a lot of barrier work with her. Just getting her in them is a win sometimes. She goes to the gates and is loaded before she sees another horse, the barrier attendants do a lot of work wit her too and do a good job. She also has a tendency to do a lot wrong in her races, but she does all her work with some of the best horses in the stable, if she puts it all together she could be anything, it has been a lot of patience with her.
RC: Will you be on course to strap her?
MH: Plan A is to be there to strap her, all depends on what else has to be done on the day. I would be the only person in history to have a group 1 runner in a race and strap another horse, Lil Kontra when she competed in the Goodwood I strapped the Patrick Payne horse The Inevitable who we were looking after.
RC: Well Matt, thank you for your time today. Good luck on Saturday, and hopefully we will see you in the winners stall soon!
Saturdays Runners
Race 2 – Maiden 1250m
Reptilian – Dylan Caboche to ride, has had two starts to date and has been close up in both. A forward showing again is expected
Race 5 – No Metro Wins – Last Year 1250m
Bajan Belle – Sairyn Fawke rides the 5yo mare, recent form has been ok and has drawn well to put her best foot forward here.
Stella Notation – Alana Livesey rides and feels the smaller field will suit, her trackwork as usual has been faultless, just need her to put it together on raceday.
Race 7 – No Metro Wins 1550m
Indy Magic – Sairyn Fawke on board, this race is named after the owner, former Olympian Kerry O’Brien who isn’t in the best of health so would be awesome to get a good result for him.