Getting a Leg-Up

​By Ron Howard, Silks, 2001

Thoroughbred Racing, the great equaliser,  has a knack of bringing together strange bedfellows. In any betting ring across the land, paupers rub shoulders with the rich,  who are perhaps only too keenly aware they are only one bad streak away from joining them.

And syndicate ownership often marries the most unlikely partners. Only that common bond, hope, entwines them, but some of the strongest of friendships have flowed from this very source. 



The six owners of Paternal consider themselves fortunate indeed to have been brought together by Victorian horse trainer Kerry Edwards. Playing equine matchmaker, the canny lass initiated the horse's purchase and recruited everyone from her next door neighbour, garrulous solicitor Graham Pitts, to her laconic but loyal mechanic, Peter Newell, to invest in her dream.


Armed with just $16,000, Edwards ventured to the Inglis ready-to run sales in Sydney with a mind to buying a VOBIS filly, and returned with a non Vobis colt. Pitt confesses he was quite surprised to discover that Kerry had actually purchased the horse.



It turned out a slick move. Paternal has now earned this merry band nearly $100,00 in only eleven starts, and the partner's mood is high.


And there's international interest - one of the owners,  Arthur Darivas, resides in Chile, and avidly follows the horse's progress via the internet.

Other syndicate members include, Craig Kennedy, an electrician,  Chris Kouteris, a superannuation consultant, and Peter Freeham, bus company executive. For all it has been an educational experience, and one not entirely without its uncomfortable moments. Solicitor Pitts made the tactical error of being the only owner present in the mounting yard pre-race at Moonee Valley, having to make small talk with Paternal's rider Brett Prebble. After several thwarted attempts at conversation, and acting on Kerry's strict advice to avoid saying anything that might be interpreted as riding instructions, Prebble suddenly declared to Pitts, "that was the longest I've waited to be legged-up in my life."