It might not be the Magic Millions, but country trainer Vanessa McLennan will be chasing her own pot of gold at Rosehill on Saturday.
McLennan, who hails from the NSW northern rivers city of Grafton, will saddle up her first Sydney runner when Curley Mac lines up in the Australian Turf Club Plate (1100m).
The two-year-old, a home-bred, is unbeaten after two starts.
He scored by almost three lengths at Grafton on debut in November and followed it with a comfortable two-length victory at Kempsey.
But it was a barrier trial win at Coffs Harbour on Sunday that tempted McLennan to head to town.
“His 600-metre sectional was really good. He broke 33 seconds so it warranted coming here,” McLennan said.
McLennan has been around horses all her life.
She dabbled in pony club as a youngster and used to walk past Grafton racetrack on her way to school, dreaming of a career in racing.
At first, she hoped it would be in the saddle.
“I had a short career as an apprentice but I broke my neck in a race fall so I continued on into training,” McLennan said.
“I fractured both sides of one of my vertebra. It took a year or so to get going again.”
McLennan has been training for almost 12 years during which time she also enjoyed a stint working for Bart Cummings.
Her best horse to date has been Speedy Punta, a prolific winner in the bush who landed six of his 11 career wins during his time under McLennan, including the 2001 Easter Cup at Grafton.
But she has never had a horse like Curley Mac.
“He’s a very casual customer and takes everything in his stride,” she said.
“He’s still got a lot of growing and maturing to do.
“But he just wants to be a racehorse.”
McLennan and Curley Mac arrived in Sydney on Wednesday to prepare for Saturday’s assignment.
A bundle of excitement and nerves, McLennan is rapt to have her name in the racebook alongside some of the sport’s luminaries.
Among Curley Mac’s six rivals is De Shamekh for Gai Waterhouse and Treaty trained by Darley’s Peter Snowden.
“It’s very exciting,” McLennan said.
“To be up against trainers like Gai is great.”
AAP TURF
