Old timers shining at Redcliffe

By Jordan Gerrans

At a grand old, combined age of 25, Deception Bay trainer Graham White is the king of the veterans when it comes to Redcliffe. 

It is a rarity for a trainer to be preparing two horses who are 12 and 13 years of age, respectively.

It is an even more unusual occurrence for the veteran combination to win races in the space of a week or so.

Stalwart horseman White achieved that feat this month when stable long-termers Theresachance and Oyster Stride won three races across a fortnight. 

Theresachance, the 12-year-old of the team, made it back-to-back wins at Redcliffe on Wednesday evening.

Theresachance’s older stablemate - Oyster Stride – claimed the prize around ‘The Triangle’ on Thursday of last week. 

“He's bloody unbelievable,” White said about Theresachance.

“He's just a champion; he's a bloody beautiful horse to have around the stable. He loves it, still racing.

“He is going extra good at the moment.”

Trainer White, who is 78 years of age himself and is nearing his 79^th birthday, prepares a team of around eight. 

He is full of praise for the job young reinsman Jack Chapple is doing with Theresachance as they have combined to win together in their last two trips to Redcliffe. 

“Young Jack is driving well and he goes well for Jack,” he said.

“I don’t like changing my drivers so while it is going well, we will stick together.”

On top of winning at the ripe old age of 12, Theresachance is also nearing another special occasion at his favourite track at the Redcliffe Peninsula Harness Racing and Sporting Club.

The victory on Wednesday evening was the 33^rd of his career at the venue. 

The son of South Park Hanover only trails Ashlee Nitro for most victories at the track. 

Theresachance and Ashlee Nitro in recent times have gone past previous long-time Redcliffe champion Glenmore Admiral who previously held the mark at 30 triumphs.

Ashlee Nitro is prepared by veteran conditioner Stewart Dickson and will race at Redcliffe on Thursday afternoon as the mare aims to extend her winning ways to 35 at the track. 

Dickson and White are long-time mates. 

Before White went into training his own team of horses and was still working in the building game, he previously had horses he owned in the stable of Dickson.

At the track on Wednesday night, White quipped to Dickson that Theresachance was coming for Ashlee Nitro’s record and they shared a laugh together. 

In what is somewhat of a rarity in harness racing, Theresachance has been prepared by White at Deception Bay for the entirety of his 331 career starts.

The experienced conditioner purchased the gelding at the local Redcliffe sales for just $1,100 for as a yearling.

He is nearing $230,000 in career stakes with a fair chance that there is more to come.

After drawing one on the front row on Wednesday evening, Theresachance was always going to be hard to hold out and started as the race favourite. 

Emerging concession reinsman Chapple did enough on the veteran gelding for him to score by a touch over a metre. 

White says Theresachance is likely to be back at Redcliffe on Wednesday or Thursday of next week as he aims to continue to climb the winning leaderboard at the venue. 

The 13-year-old Oyster Stride has claimed 34 career races but unlike his fellow veteran stablemate, the gelding has done plenty of winning in the southern states as well as at Albion Park. 

“He's a lovely old horse, Oyster,” White said.

“Everything I get out of these horses, I put back into them.

“They go to the races and they perform accordingly. There's not too many 13-year-olds going around.

“People often ask me when I am going to retire these horses and I always say that they will tell me when they are ready.

“They're both going good, as long as they go good and do their best, I am happy.”