Herne racing’s ever consistent maidener, Carmenere, headed to the paddock in style on Wednesday when he scored by the bob of a head in the Schweppes Maiden Plate over 1350m at Ipswich.
Finishing second in the $100,000 Town Plate the previous start, the three year old by Onemorenomore was always going to head out as favourite but he did have some obstacles to overcome.
“He may have only fell in today but it was a huge effort considering all the things that were against him,” Herne said.
“The Town Plate was really his grand final and we were planning to spell him after that run but he pulled up well and having raced so consistently I really wanted to see him go out a winner for the owners.
“The next problem I had was finding a race for him. He’s looking for the mile now but there were none about so we’ve just had to keep him fresh enough for the 1400m. He then drew barrier 14 on Saturday at the Coast so we elected to come here instead knowing the tight turning track wasn’t going to be ideal for his big frame.
“He then drew awkwardly here and it’s a bit of a leaders track today too so we’ve ridden him upside down and gone forward on him. That’s a lot of things to be against you and still win.”
Carmenere was selected by Herne at the Patinack Dispersal Sale last year for good client Blair Drinkwater at First Up Racing and he was bought as an unraced three year old.
“It was a tough sale to buy at,” Herne said.
“It was hard to know just how much work and education the horses had and he was a big fat colt that had been out in the paddock a while. He was a good style of horse under all that condition and I like the Onemorenomore’s. Blair and Justin were happy to go for him and now they’ve got a nice, progressive horse on their hands.”
Carmenere has now had four career starts for a win, two seconds and a third, notching up $41,000 for his big group of owners.
Photo courtesy Trackside Photography
