Veteran gelding Ginga Dude has won 15 races and more than a million dollars but that’s not the reason he is a special horse to Graeme Boyd.
Officially, Boyd is his owner and trainer.
Unofficially, he is his constant companion and mate.
There seems little doubt the relationship is two-way and Ginga Dude, who will run in Saturday’s Group Two Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm, often makes that clear.
“I ride him myself. I do everything with him. We travel together. We’re great mates,” Boyd said.
“He’s such a character. He knows me so well. He can get quite aggressive with other people but with me, I can do anything with him.”
Aside from one young horse back in New Zealand, Ginga Dude is the only galloper on Boyd’s books.
He dabbled in training many years ago but gave it away to become an equine chiropractor, spending two decades in the United States teaching and working before eventually returning to his homeland of New Zealand to retire.
It didn’t last long.
“I was at the races one day and someone said, `would you like to buy a share in a horse,’ and that’s how it all started,” Boyd said.
The horse was Ginga Dude and not long after the pair came to Australia and enjoyed instant success winning a Group Three race during the 2010 Melbourne spring carnival.
His form wasn’t as sharp at his two subsequent preparations but Ginga Dude proved he still had something to offer during the winter in Brisbane.
He notched two wins and two placings from five starts, earning himself a short break ahead of the spring.
Ginga Dude has a solid first-up record but the likelihood of a firm Warwick Farm track has put a dent in Boyd’s optimism about his Chelmsford chances.
“If there was a little bit of rain I would have thought he was a huge chance,” Boyd said.
“But it’s a hot field and I’m just not sure.”
Ginga Dude will remain in Sydney for at least two more runs before Boyd decides whether to pursue another Melbourne campaign.
Longer-term, he hopes to get one more crack at the Brisbane winter carnival next year.
Beyond that, well, Boyd doesn’t want to contemplate it.
“I’ve been over here with him two years now, travelling around,” he said.
“I don’t know what I’ll do when he’s gone but we won’t think about that.”
