Putting smiles on faces is what harness racing is all about and Haveachat did just that to 78-year-old trainer Ian Hunter at Cranbourne on Saturday night.
The Harkness horseman had to defy the odds with his horse and his own personal health battles to see the chestnut gelding finally crack a maiden victory at start 22.
“I’ve beaten cancer three times and I’m on my fourth attempt now,” Hunter said. “I’m going pretty well, I can’t complain.
“I’ve had prostate, lymphoma, skin cancer and now I’ve got prostate again… I’m good, I’m a person who doesn’t worry about too much. I believe in Peter MacCallum (Cancer Centre) and they have always done the right thing by me. I trust them to do what they have to do.
“If I walk out the door at the end of the day after chemo, you’re doing well. A lot of people don’t walk out. I’m very positive thinking about it.”
The win for Haveachat on Saturday night was one that Hunter expected despite the six-year-old’s long run of outs.
“Well, I thought he would win to be honest,” he said.
“He is a beautifully bred horse and he has had a lot of problems, as you can tell by the amount of starts he has had. I thought he would go very well.
“He’s a bit of a pet as well and we look after him. It wasn’t written in the report from a previous race, but he had a flat tyre that wrapped around his leg and he had a gallop. He’s been working at home very well.
“He’s a half-brother to (multiple Group 1 winner) Our Uncle Sam, so he should have ability. He’s had a lot of foot and leg problems… but he’s an honest horse and he tries.”
Hunter loves looking after his horses and isn’t letting his setbacks stop him.
“It keeps you young,” he said. “I’m nearly 80, I still shoe my own horses and we do everything ourselves - the whole lot.”
Image:Claire Weston Photography