Trots Centre: Mick and Denbeigh find 'Ton of reasons to move on

Success drove Mick Gadsden and Denbeigh Wade back to the drawing board and with some encouraging words and a leap of faith the popular trainer-driver combo are ready to take Mickbeigh Racing to the next level.

The duo ferry a trio to Terang tonight for what will be one of their final night’s in the West region, with their camp's expansion prompting a move to Charlton’s training centre.

“We had purchased property in Ararat four years ago now and had a 10-year plan, which suited us perfectly because our property was big enough for a team of four and we were close to the Ararat track,” Gadsden said.

“The 10-year plan became a four-year plan because we got some good horses in like Ainthatrightmacca and King Denny. Then Stephen Blacker jumped in and supported us with the likes of Maorishadow, and we are at the point where we have the horses but we don’t have the space to race them.”

The good problem to have was also one that required solving.

“I was sitting at home one night and thought about Charlton and its training centre, so I got on to Greg Norman (who trains there) and talked about the set up,” Gadsden said.

“It is nice and central to a lot of tracks, the community is good and the committee is good, so I got on to (club president) Joe Thompson and he sold me on it straight away. They more or less said anything we can do to help you just sing out.

“They’re really trying to make something of it, their facilities are top notch, which is what you want when you are starting out without having to spend the money to start up your own stable. There is room for eight to a dozen horses and it’s a good chance to have a go.”

And so they will, and quite soon.

“Moving to Charlton puts us up into the East zone, but we are going to give our horses a run tonight and again in the West in about 10 days, and then we will look at the move to Charlton,” Gadsden said. “So hopefully by the time we have settled in things will have opened up again.”

Promising Maorishadow ran at Terang last night, stable star King Denny is about three to four weeks away as he bounces back from a footy injury, while The Summer Cat, Markleigh Jill and Markleigh Caz will all race tonight at Ballarat.

“We have been working five at the most, we have three waiting to come in and another to come from New Zealand (pacer The Interceptor) once flights open up.

“We will have probably 10 or 11 (in work at Charlton), and I advertised a South Australian filly this week and sold about 40 per cent in a day. It’s exciting, we are getting a bit of momentum behind us and this is a good chance to take the plunge and see what happens.”

But before then there’s work to be done, beginning with The Summer Cat in tonight's Decoglaze Trotters Handicap, with Wade to take the reins in the race that streams on Trots Vision at 6.03pm.

Talented but often a handful, The Summer Cat returned from a freshen up with a win last start at Terang on May 24 and Gadsden is optimistic they are starting to make some ground with the Angus Hall five-year-old.

“(Terang) was one of those where it looked on paper he was the best horse on ability, but it is just whether he shows up,” he said. “Every time he has trotted he has never missed a top three finish and has been beaten by horses like Jilliby Babavska, who have gone on to win a lot more races.

“He’s a bit more settled this time in. He was trialing nicely leading up to Terang and it was good to see him settle, roll to the front and show his ability.

“He has trained on nice since Terang and seems in a happy place. I’m confident he’ll run top two or three if he does everything right (tonight), and I think there’s more chance of him doing everything right than not.”

The pair’s other engagement is the Flying Horse Entertainment Venue Pace, with Wade to steer Markleigh Jill from gate two and Gadsden to drive Markleigh Caz from gate six.

“The two girls are just honest, bread and butter horses. They go around and earn a couple of 100 bucks between them. They are no stars, but they pay their way and a little more.

“They have worked on all right since their last start but will sit back in the field and try and earn a bit more money.”

TALKING TROTS ON SENTRACK:

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