Sally rings up the dollars for Swain

Bruce Stewart Contributor

Sally Lindenny (Majestic Son) has proven a bargain buy for Southern harness racing horseman Murray Swain.

He purchased her from Gavelhouse for $3,500 and her win in the $20,000 Neville Cleaver Fishing Aparima Trot at the Riverton meeting was her fourth for Swain and trainer Kirstin Green.

In the Neville Cleaver trotting feature Green settled the eight year old behind pacemaker Willangus Lad.

When Willangus Lad galloped just after turning in, Green pulled Sally Lindenny off his back and made her run up the inside of the track. Although Jimmy Carter and Dont Ask closed in on her late, she held on to win by a neck from Dont Ask with a half a head back to Jimmy Carter.

“The distance suited her, and she had plenty in the tank at the finish,” Green said.

Sally Lindenny winning the Aparima Trot (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Sally Lindenny is in foal to Royal Aspirations and when asked if that’s settled the normally cantankerous mare down Green was quick to reply.

“No. Her attitude was still pretty silly today but she’s just better on the grass. When she’s in a standing start with no horses in front of her she seems to step away a lot better. She surprised me today because Phil’s (Williamson) runner (Jimmy Carter) is a pretty nice horse. I thought if we ran in three (the top three) I’d be over the moon.”

Since being at Green’s stable Sally Lindenny has had fifteen starts for four wins, one second and five thirds with $39,787.50 in stakes. Yesterday’s win was the biggest of her nine wins.

Although it’s early days in the mare’s pregnancy Green says her racing days are numbered.

“We’ll look at going to Gore and Cromwell for the grass tracks there. I’ll talk to Murray. She’s done a good job, and we’ll look after her now.”

Meanwhile Green says her former star pacer U May Cullect is enjoying retirement at Tisbury but is looking for a change.

“He’s just hanging out in the paddock babysitting a couple. But we’re looking for a home for him. If anyone is looking for a nice endurance horse or hack, that’s what we’re looking for right now. He’s a busy horse and needs to be doing something.”

Green is contemplating a shift in career with a venture into Real Estate part time, and she’s downsizing her racing team.

“I’ve got my certificate and I just have to apply for my licence, which I’ll do in the next month or so and look at maybe getting into it in the winter. It’s definitely on the horizon but the horses are just going too well at the moment.”

Yesterday’s meeting at Riverton proved to be an outstanding success. It’s the first time since 2000 that harness racing has been held on the picturesque seaside course and judging by the crowd that packed the home straight, the meeting will be raced on the grass in the near future.

The field in Race Five passing the winning post for the first time (Bruce Stewart Photo)

The day was well supported by local horsemen, sponsors and the Riverton racing community.

An extended view down the home straight showing just the front row (Bruce Stewart Photo)