In Brief
- Winky Dink a bargain buy on the internet.
- Roach confident of first-up win.
- Trainer hoping for a double with Irish Shotgun.
Hobby trainer Chester Roach has grown his team to five in recent times and included in his Sidmouth-based stable is Winky Dink that developed a reputation as a bit of a wild child when in the care of top trainer Glenn Stevenson.
The mare will have her first start for Roach in Devonport on Sunday in a benchmark 60 handicap over 1150 metres.
Winky Dink was a member of a group of horses in Stevenson’s care that needed to be sold at public auction to dissolve an ownership issue and Roach says he was at the right place at the right time to buy the mare.
“I was aware of a few horses that were about to go under the hammer on Bloodstock Auctions over the internet and I secured Winky Dink for a ridiculously small sum,” Roach said.
“I live next door to harness trainer Ben Yole who ended up taking a half-share in the mare.
“We gave her a trial (800m) in Devonport last week and she finished second, but she was never out of second gear with Brendon McCoull aboard.
“Brendon (McCoull) said he was keen to ride her this Sunday, so that was a good sign.”
Winky Dink’s main opposition appears to be last-start winner Barbie’s Witness and the Team Wells-trained Gee Gees Darl that was an eye-catching fourth first-up in a race won by Warrior Prince in Devonport three weeks ago.
Roach also will saddle up last-start winner Irish Shotgun in a benchmark 60 handicap over 1650m).
“Irish Shotgun is another one that I bought on the internet and he’s already paid for himself by winning at his fourth run for me at Spreyton two weeks ago and he only cost $2000.
“Irish Shotgun has worked really well since his last start and I would expect him to be hard to beat again.”
Elisavet and Fiveandfurther loom as the main dangers with Moss ‘N’ Bolt and Matiano the best of the rest.
Watch Winky Dink’s trial in Devonport on 12 August.