Simpson savours special Hermann win

By Jordan Gerrans

To win the first edition of the Clarry Hermann Memorial race at Winton, in the words of long-time Longreach trainer Richard Simpson, it was personal.

Hermann was an iconic figure at Winton and in the surrounding communities in the Central West of Queensland.

In June of this year, he passed away at 89 years of age after a short illness.

Hermann was a passionate trainer and owner across many decades while also working on the land, including droving, shearing, dealing in stock on agistment and being involved in pubs.

He enjoyed great success with Vain Joe back in 2004, with the galloper winning the Birdsville, Betoota and Bedourie Cups, with Hermann’s son Ray training the horse.

Following his passing, the North Gregory Turf Club added a memorial race to its program for Saturday’s meeting, with the Simpson-prepared Royalify winning the race in dominant fashion.

Simpson had been close with Hermann professionally and socially for almost four decades, so the result was an emotional one for the experienced horseman.

Like his late mate, Simpson is also a Birdsville Cup champion, which he says pales into insignificance compared to the victory on Saturday.

“The race was personal,” he declared.

“We were very close, not only in business, but personally close. It had a bit of feeling to it.

“It was more of a thrill than winning the Birdsville Cup three times, there you go.”

For the record, Simpson’s three Birdsville Cup-winning horses are Boyarin in 2002, Equitant in 2009 and Lucasam in 2014.

As well as training his team of horses, Simpson works as a stock and station agent, which led to his close association with the Hermann family.

“He came to Winton as a 13-year-old all those years ago and he's left his family a legacy,” Simpson said of his late mate. 

“He was a bloke. Well, he was colourful; he was an outback bush larrikin.

“He was a risk taker. He was a calculated risk taker and a workaholic.

“The common thread in all that was, he just loved racing. It's been in his genes all his life. He was a very good judge of livestock.

“It doesn't matter whether you're a sheep or a cow or a horse, he's just a very good judge of livestock. He was forthright.

“He was tough physically and mentally. He was probably one of the toughest humans that I've had a lot to do with.”

Royalify was having his first start in the region on Saturday after previously being trained by Stephen O'Halloran in regional New South Wales.

The six-year-old gelding had been off the racing scene since late April, but he was up to the task first-up, as veteran hoop John Rudd steered him to victory to land the heartfelt win for Simpson and connections.

“I bought the horse online, we got him up here and he sat in the paddock for five months or so,” he said.

“He turned up here; he was a big horse. He was unsettled and he is a funny going type of horse.

“So, we just went through the process like we do, just to put him in a happy position.

“We just worked him, just kept on working on him and that was our first hit-out.”

While Royalify started in the market at $4.40 in the Class 2 over 1200 metres, Simpson did not expect him to perform as well as he did.

“I'll tell you the truth, the odds were against him,” he said.

“It's a sharp turning track, when he came to the corner, it's a very sharp bend.

“The horse on the inside that won well at Birdsville, Private Showtime, you can see she probably got a neck in front of him.

“Then, it's only a very short straight. So, when he's straightened up, that's when he then came back and got on top.

“There was only one way we had a chance in the race and that was for us to go forward.”

The voice of racing in the Central West, Andrew Watts, praised the performance of Royalify in his call.

“That was impressive,” Watts said.

“He monstered Private Showtime up the running. All honours with the winner. He is going places.”

Simpson owns Royalify as well as training him.

Hermann’s son Ray also had a runner in the Clarry Hermann Memorial on Saturday, with Weird Goodbyes finishing sixth.

Ray Hermann had two other runners face the starter at the meeting.

As well as Vain Joe, the Hermann family has enjoyed great success with Bollente in recent times.

Meanwhile, it will be a big week coming up for Simpson with the Longreach Cup meeting to be held on his home track.

While he will not have a Cup runner, he will have horses compete on the support program, while his business Simstock Rural is one of the major sponsors of the event.