A feast of firsts

By David Nagel
FAMILIES and friends celebrated the New Year in relaxed surroundings at the Pakenham Picnic Racing Club on Sunday and it was a local trainer who kicked off 2012 in the best way possible.
Three-year-old gelding Een Leven was having his fourth career start but his first for Pakenham trainer Peter Foster. The two teamed up with jockey Rhonda Mangan to win the first race on the card, the 59 On Queen Restaurant Maiden Handicap (1000m). For Foster it was as good as a Group One.
“Any race is good to win, it might be a picnic race but at the time it feels like you’ve won a Melbourne Cup,” Foster said.
A change of owners after Een Leven’s most recent start on 2 December saw Foster reunited with the horse that he has an intimate understanding of.
“I did break the horse in so I know him pretty well,” he said. “It was my first start with him today and I just feel lucky to have him back.”
After three inauspicious starts Een Leven was a surprising early favourite in the betting ring before drifting to be sent out a $5.50 chance. Foster was confident of a good run.
“I told Rhonda before the race that the way he’s been working he should win,” he said. “He was down in class but the drop in distance was the biggest thing today, he’s been running over 1200 and 1400 metres.”
Foster thinks Een Leven won’t get much further than the 1000 metres of Sunday’s race.
“We might get 1100 out of him but that’s about it, I just wish we had 800-metre races like they do in Queensland, he’d never get beaten,” he said.
“He’s a bundle of energy but the elastic band only stretches so far with him.”
Een Leven was in front as the field turned for home and fought on gallantly in the straight to hold off Viola Velvet by a long neck. Foster hopes Sunday’s win will give Een Leven a major boost in confidence.
“Horses are like little kids, if you won a foot race as a kid your chest blew out and you gained confidence, it’s exactly the same with horses,” he explained.
“We did it with another horse I train, Trojan of Troy, he won three picnic races and built up his confidence and he’s won another five races since.”
Foster was particularly delighted that Mangan was the winning rider. He had a runner in race four on Sunday, Sebastians Tart, that Mangan has ridden in her most recent outings but due to the fickle nature of racing he took the ride from her. He had a simple explanation.
“It’s just racing, that’s the way it goes,” Foster said.
“I’m happy for her though, this one’s a good consolation.”
Mangan was replaced by Caitlin Jones who rode a great race on Sebastians Tart, beaten in a photo finish by Wings on Track.