Merry old victory for special team

By Jordan Gerrans

A special connection between horse and rider has lifted a formerly out-of-confidence stayer into contention for a popular regional Queensland racing series. 

FNQ apprentice hoop Krysten Swaffer and gelding Merry Old Soul claimed the maximum points on offer on Saturday at Mareeba in the fifth leg of the 2025 Magic Millions Rob Koch Memorial FNQ Up and Coming Stayers series.

The son of Savabeel started his career with champion trainer Peter Moody in Melbourne with high hopes back in 2021.

The Kiwi-bred Merry Old Soul has gone through a number of trainers stables since and grabbed only the second victory of his 27-start career on Saturday in the last event from Mareeba’s non-TAB program. 

Merry Old Soul is now prepared by the father-and-son team of Trevor and Peter Rowe at Cairns.

Co-trainer Peter believes the stable’s long-time apprentice – Swaffer - has brought the best out of the formerly luckless galloper. 

Swaffer’s victory aboard Merry Old Soul was her first since May of 2023 after a couple of years on the sidelines following the birth of her first daughter Lainey as well as a couple of injury setbacks. 

“This horse is basically the reason Krysten wanted to get her licence back, he is the horse she wanted to ride,” co-trainer Peter said.

“That is basically two years and four days since her last win. She had the injuries and then the baby – she has taken her time to get back, but she is very fit.

“She is riding plenty of work and that was her fifth ride back to get the winner.

“She rode it a treat on Sunday, she didn’t look any different in the race than what she used to a couple of years ago.”

The 2025 Magic Millions Rob Koch Memorial FNQ Up and Coming Stayers series commenced in last March with four more races to be held following Saturday’s Mareeba event.

Koch was a popular North Queensland racing ­administrator and horse owner who passed away in March of 2020 after years of involvement in several different roles within the racing industry.

He devoted his time to the Far North Country Racing Association, where he was the secretary, with plans to eventually become president before his sad passing.

Koch's greatest legacy in the north is the Magic Millions FNQ Up and Coming Stayers Series, which he started, in conjunction with local clubs in 2014.

Following his death, organisers added the memorial element to the title of the series.

The Up and Coming Stayers Series is an event that provides horses with lower ratings an opportunity to race over staying trips and look to eventually qualify for NQ Cup races later in the year.

The series does not culminate in a Final, but there is an owner, trainer and jockey bonus based on points accrued. 

Innisfail trainer Maria Potiris and her galloper Melanin have dominated the series so far as they lead their categories. 

Consistent gelding Melanin picked up two more points on Saturday as he finished second to Merry Old Soul. 

Over 1800 metres on Saturday, Swaffer was forced to travel three deep from the 600 metre mark but as Peter notes, a bit of clear air was all Merry Old Soul needed as he found plenty approaching the winning post. 

The co-trainer is hopeful the gelding will now go on with it.

“We have just aimed to get his confidence back,” Peter said.

“On his breeding, he should be racing in the Melbourne Cup, not a Benchmark 60 at Mareeba.

“But, he had no confidence and if he didn’t get things his own way, he would just throw the towel in and not try.

“Krysten has ridden him in his work all along and she has a knack with him as he goes 100 times better in his work than what he would on race day.

“His first-up run at Mount Garnet was good and we were confident he would run a good race at Mareeba.

“You can never say on his form that he is a winning chance, but Krysten gave him plenty of open spaces and he attacked the line good.”

The next leg of the series will be held at Cairns’ Cannon Park early in June with it culminating at the same venue in late July.

Swaffer was not the only hoop to break a long winless drought on Saturday at the meeting. 

Experienced Townsville jockey Ivo Fry nabbed his first winner since November of 2016 aboard Five Bulls for conditioner Janel Ryan.

After a lengthy career in the saddle, Fry did not ride in a race between early 2017 and late last year.