By Shane Goss
Driving into the car park at Tatura racetrack I recalled the great mare Sunline striding to the post in front of thousands at Moonee Valley for back-to-back Cox Plates. On board her was New Zealand hoop Greg Childs, his son, Jordan, had followed suit with the silks and was looking to ride his first winner at Tatura. It didn’t take long to find a spot for the car, a far cry from those days at the Valley, and walking through the betting ring I could hear local bookies calling punters by their Christian names.
A good place to start for young Jordan I thought to myself. He was on the Patrick Payne trained Hepburn Miss in the second, a maiden over 1100 metres. It looked good in the mounting-yard and subsequently so too did the blonde behind the tote-window. I parted with my hard-earned. She was a fifteen dollar chance and followed the leader all the way to the finish to run second.
In the fourth, Childs was on Rain Storm, a five-to-one chance again in the Payne stable. It bolted in. Young Childs gave a quick glance over the shoulder on the home turn before swinging the pursuader and streeting the rest of the field. Dad would have been proud. I thought of sporting debuts. Buddy Franklin’s first game for the Hawks in Sydney when he managed just six disposals and failed to trouble the scorers wearing guernsey number thirty-eight or Brett ‘Binga’ Lee who got the ball rolling at the MCG in 1999 against India when he dismissed Sadagoppan Ramesh with just his fourth delivery in Test cricket.
Could Jordan’s win lead to greater heights? Could he find himself onboard another Sunline and emulate his father’s feats? I wasn’t sure Tatura would see too much more of him as i left the car-park.
After Child’s win I decided to head for Kyabram, or ‘Ky’ to the locals, about a twenty minute drive further on from Tatura. The home side was playing Seymour in round sixteen of the Goulburn Valley Football League. It was an important clash, especially for Kyabram. They were a game behind Seymour on the ladder and needed a win to stay in the race for the finals. Seymour’s coach, Bernie Habemann, had recently resigned from the position and was hoping to take the Lions to the finals in his last year.
A crowd of around 300 were on hand and conditions were good despite a muddy centre. Kyabram began well and led by spearhead Paul Newman, who was providing the ‘sting’ in the Bomber’s attack, quickly asserted themsleves on the contest.
By half-time they had doubled the Lions score to lead by 27 points and Habemann was furious with his players commitment.
Kyabram increased their lead to 37 points at the final change and the locals in-front of the Bomber’s change-rooms were rejoicing. However instead of the beer and pies swilling around in their mouths, their hearts were there as Seymour came home with a wet sail. The Lions kicked seven goals to two in the final term to fall short by six points.
Seymour are now joined by Kyabram on 28 points and sit sixth and seventh respectively on the ladder with two rounds remaining. Newman starred and was the difference between the two teams booting eight goals in a best-on-ground performance. Seymour sharp-shooter and competition leader, Saad Saad snared three whilst mid-fielder Brendan Liddell was adjudged their best.
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