The Unsung Heroes of Racing – Great Save by Seasoned Clerk
Tamara Markham and Phoebe on the job. Photo Credit- Photography by Jodie Hallows
It was looking a little hairy for Shannon Suvaljko in the third at Gloucester Park, with a gear malfunction causing Suvaljko to lose his left rein completely and no longer able to steer his horse, he signalled to the clerk of the course for some help and that’s when Tamara Markham and her trusty clerk horse ‘Phoebe’ stepped up and promptly caught Southern Belle NZ before anything could go wrong.
“From a distance I thought he wasn’t sitting on his rein, then when he put his hand up, I was like ‘time to move old girl’”
Phoebe, the 21-year-old thoroughbred has been a vital part of Markham’s work life for a very long time, with the ex-racer coming up on 14-years as a clerk at the trots in WA.
“Because she’s a mare, she isn’t allowed to clerk at the races (thoroughbreds). I want to retire her next year and just use her as back up if I need,”
“That’s the plan at this stage, it’s just hard trying to replace her and putting my trust into another horse as much as I trust Phoebe.”
Quick thinking on Markham’s part and speed from her steed saw the pair catch the uncontrollable horse quickly and without any disruption to the other runners or the race.
I’m sure there was a sigh of relief from them both with the rest of the meeting continuing without a hitch, giving the pair a much-appreciated breather on the six-race card.
Our Glowing Star broke through for her maiden win in the first, with the three-year-old saluting for Peter Anderson and Chris Lewis in the three-year-old fillies maiden. In 2:01:0, she was in the breeze for the majority, going on to win by 1.3m over the 2130m trip.
The money was right in race two, with the $1.03 fixed odds favourite Tenzing Bromac NZ leading all the way in race two for Team Bond and Ryan Warwick. In 2:01:0, Warwick got away with a slow first section of 32.8 seconds, winning comfortably by 7.7m for the successful trio.
Miss Eerie did plenty of work in the early stages to work her way to the breeze, but it didn’t worry the four-year-old, going on to run down the leader narrowly in race three for trainer John Graham and driver Emily Suvaljko. After a last start second, she got the win on Tuesday night for her connection, recording a mile rate of 1:58:5 over the 2130m.
Consistent pacer Mcardles Gem NZ brought up his 16th career victory at start 109, giving trainer/driver Brett Smith the win in race four over the 2536m staying journey. After lobbing the one-on position from barrier 6, the $34 shot made his run with 500m to go, running down the short-priced favourite by a half head on the line in 2:00:4.
After leading all the way in the fifth on the card, Stormyskyes saluted for trainer Jeri Steele and driver Shane Steele. In a mile rate of 2:00:2, the four-year-old mare went on to claim the win by 3.9m over her rivals, bringing up her first win in 13 months for the Steele family.
Emily Suvaljko had bragging rights in the drivers’ room, with the in-form reinswoman claiming her second win on the night with the Matt Scott trained Miracle max in the last. Winning narrowly by a short half head, the four-year-old who has been struggling to find form as late toughed it out in the breeze to win in 2:00:6 over the 2130 journey.
Ashleigh Paikos