On Track - Spring 2019

10 A VALLEY WIN WITH EMOTION By Tim Guille The Sport of Kings often throws up a fairy tale story, but sometimes it can be one tale that stand outs above all the others in a season of highs and lows. Amongst the bright Valley night lights on a mild early Autumn night in March, a new name was etched onto the winner’s trophy of the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes over 1600m, one that came with it an emotional side-story that was as touching as it was beautiful. When long time owners and racing enthusiasts Tony and Lynn Ottobre lost their daughter, Jennifer, in 2015, they found a way to honour their lost loved one in one of the best ways they know how. “We hope to keep her memory alive by naming some of our better fillies after her. It gives us something to look forward to because when you lose a child, it’s obviously pretty devastating.” There have been a few horses that have been bestowed this honour now, but when three-year-old filly Princess Jenni returned to the winner’s stall on that Autumn night, it was no surprise to see the emotions pouring out for Tony and Lynn. “Our horses give us hope and we get a sense of pride seeing her name connected in this way. It is just great to see them run, so to win a Group race is just a huge thrill” said Tony. Trained by David Brideoake and ridden by Damien Oliver, the courageous filly found the line just at the right time, beating a handy group of fillies to win. “I went into that race thinking it would be nice to get a top five or a placing. It was a tremendous ride by Damien Oliver. He had her placed towards the back but rode her so quietly. The way that she won it was pretty special, she just kept going and won so strongly,” he said. Racing is not foreign to Tony. He was apprenticed for some time in the early 1970’s to W.S. Cox Plate winning trainer Colin Hayes and the now as a successful businessman, has been involved in racing through ownership for many years. Tony and Lynn Ottobre with the Alexandra Stakes Trophy