C
ompetition continues to open up for off-the-track Thoroughbreds with a raft of
events popping up all over Australia. Last month, Equestrian NSW staged the Inglis Thoroughbred Classic during the Southern Cross Show Horse Spectacular, where retired Thoroughbreds were given the opportunity to enter one of two events, either the New Stars (horses with one to three years showing experience) or the All-Stars (horses with four years or more of showing). I had the honor of being invited to join New Zealand trainer and equestrian Richard Otto, and NSW horsewoman Lyn Holgate as one of the three judges. Combinations were required to perform a set workout and were ranked first through to last by each judge, with the winner determined on the highest number of votes. Each winner took home $1,000 along with trophies, a magnificent garland, and a wool rug. Some of the best-performing horses and riders in the country took part and coped admirably with the cold, windy, and wet conditions on the day. Darkness had fallen by the time the All-Stars class got underway and an absolute stand out under the lights of the Sydney International Equestrian Centre was Trina Crawford's flashy chestnut gelding Seventy Seven. Son of champion sprinter Choisir, he raced as Gold Seventy Seven when trained by Kris Lees at Newcastle. He was unbeaten in only three starts but tendon issues put an end to what was
L I F E A F T E R R AC I N G
When the stars align
shaping up as a very promising career on the track. It was during his racing career that Trina, who was working as a horse physio at the time, spotted the future show star while on a visit to the Lees’ stable. While waiting to treat a horse, she took a stroll through the
Sometimes things, just like the partnership between Trina Crawford and Seventy Seven, are meant to be writes JO MCKINNON.
barn and saw Seventy Seven’s head over his stable door. “I thought, wow you’re cute. So I took a photo and noticed his name the door,” she says.
