Special win for Marikit

Bruce Stewart Journalist

The win by the Paul Nairn trained and driven trotter Marikit (Waterloo Sunset) at Addington today had a special meaning, as it was a fitting farewell to Southland horseman Vin Nally who passed away in Invercargill on Friday.

As a founding member of the Dolomite Syndicate, Nally bred Karimaia, the dam of Marikit.

Karimaia was an Elsu daughter of Ballymenna, making her a half-sister to Scarrymcleary which the Syndicate raced successfully.

Scarrymcleary, after winning thirteen races as a pacer (eight in New Zealand and a further five in Australia) was converted to the trotting gait by his Australian trainer David Thorn.

He only had one start in that gait in Australia before he returned to New Zealand where he won a further eight races as a trotter for John and Josh Dickie.

Pacer Paddy O’Brien was another good horse raced by the Dolomite Syndicate. He won seven races including the 2005 Northern Southland Cup. In total, the Syndicate owned 41 winners.

Vin Nally was a successful breeder and with his good friend Graham Cooney, bred and raced Groomsman (10) and Maidonthebeach (9).

Maidonthebeach

Sir Galahad was another good winner bred by Nally in his own right. He won eleven races for Gary Hall senior.

Vin was a keen rugby follower, in his younger days he played rugby for Marist Seniors in Invercargill and represented Southland. He also coached the Marist and Wrights Bush Seniors. An All Blacks follower through and through, if Ireland were playing the All Blacks he would be wearing his green Irish jersey.

In more recent years he operated the horse ambulance at southern race meetings.

A proud grandfather of his many grandchildren, he was pleased when his grandson Tom Nally decided harness racing was for him, having shadowed Vin in looking after the horses as he was growing up. After initially working for Ryal Bush trainer Hamish Hunter, Tom who’s now 24, ventured over to Western Australia where he works for Greg and Sky Bond. As a junior driver he’s driven 39 winners.  

Vin will be farewelled in Invercargill this week.