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Something I consider special and lucky that ive experienced in the thoroughbred industry is horses that have impacted me. I think I can speak for most people who experience this and say when they impact you and you connect with a horse it can be one of the most breathtaking things. But when asked to describe it, it can be like trying to describe a colour you’ve never seen. Ive been fortunate enough to work with two horses, ‘Time Ruler’ who was trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott ran in the 2022 Two-year-old Karaka Million. Time Ruler left a profound impact on me seeing him go through his stages of trials to winning and then being able to run in one of the highest stakes races in New Zealand was an honour. I was also privileged enough to strap him on his last start in New Zealand before continuing to race in Australia. Secondly, Glenn Old has a very spoilt Preferment x Zaperb gelding appropriately nicknamed “Spoilt”. Spoilt has been my favourite from the minute I arrived there and he is treated like a prince. Luckily for Spoilt and I he won his first trial. There isn’t a thing I don’t like about this horse and when he's in the stable he is a reason I love to go to work. I've taken huge pride in the last few months taking care of him, looking after him and doing little extra things with him. He is one, like Timmy always bought me comfort when needed and always put a smile on my face. i cant tell you how many times that when I've had a crap day that I've seeked comfort in a horse, particularly these two. They understand you.
But to the horse that changed my life.
Everswindell
When I was five years old, Everswindell had her first start, she was then two, and not only did anyone know what she would achieve including myself, but I certainly didn’t know what impact she would have on me.
I have recently found out that she passed away and after spending the last few days at a loss and in tears including now writing this I realized just what an incredible impact that beautiful bright chestnut mare had on me all of those years ago.
It seems silly to say that this horse changed the trajectory of my life, but she did. If it wasn’t for her I would of never had the sacred bonds that I did with Timmy and Spoilt but because of her, my life flourished in a way I never would have thought possible.
John Sargent who trained Everswindell throughout her career described her as a top-class two, three, four and five-year-old. She showed from early on that she was going to be incredible. John highlighted her second by a neck in the 2000 Guineas to champion mare Seachange was outstanding. Ultimately though, for her to win the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup with a dear friend Noel in the saddle is marked as one of the highlights of John's training career.
The New Zealand Cup was an incredibly special weekend, I was lucky enough to fly down with my parents and fellow syndicate members to Christchurch for the weekend where she achieved something we all dreamed of but we never thought it would happen. When people talk about winning and that adrenaline of it – it's true. The sheer euphoria of watching something so inconceivable happen right before your eyes and it's happening to you. Your horse that you have a share in with your friends just won the New Zealand Cup. It’s a feeling very rarely replicated.
I think what sticks out for me was her strength, grit and determination. She always fought to the very end and seeing her blasting turn of foot in the New Zealand Cup shows what a true war horse she is and that she is not one to lay down. Most importantly, she is the first horse I ever loved and now when I pick horses or look at attributes of a horse that I like, they more often than not resemble Everswindell in some way.
To John Sargent and to Noel Harris who have no idea what impact they’ve had on me, thank you. Thank you for being involved in this strong and talented horse, if it weren’t for both of you and Everswindell I would have never worked with horses. Thank you for inspiring me, making me believe that anything is possible, that I can achieve anything and that to dream big. Over the course of the last 18 years, I probably knew the reality that if it weren’t for her, John, Noel and the jockeys that rode her throughout her career I don’t think I would have been so keen to pursue the career I have now and certainly would of never found the love for the horse that I have.
I talked about it earlier but I can't reiterate enough that without Everswindell and everything she did and achieved I would never be working in the racing industry. I fell in love with racing because of her. She is the epitome of everything I want to achieve and in the manner she did it. The quality and the confidence that she exuded on the race track is something I can only hope to have.
But aside from the racing, I fell in love with her because she is simply breathtaking. She is beautiful, bold, full of attitude, strong, inspiring, loved, and resilient.
She was perfect.
Rest in peace beautiful girl.
The link to watch the replay of the 2007 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup can be found here.
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A special mention must go to John and Noel for their time and to Bill Gleeson who was more than happy to let me know how she is and ultimately let me know she had passed away and Patrick Chappell who provided the footage of Everswindell winning the 2007 New Zealand Cup.
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