WHEN WINNING IS A PLEASURE

Some will say it was only a win in Class 2, 800m dash – but Je Ne Sais Pas’s fluent victory at Ipswich was far more than that.

The result and the subsequent outpouring of pure pleasure by the connections of the filly was a welcome reminder of the fact that racing can, and should be, fun.

Their joy was infectious and it left most race-goers smiling – and on that basis alone, the win was a notable success giving some oomph to a meeting which might otherwise have passed quietly into the record books.

Much of the owners’ adrenaline rush came from the fact that it was their first horse, their first run and, obviously, their first winner.

“I said to Pam that we want to get something for nothing that will win plenty,” said part owner Aaron Brooks, when asked how the group came to purchase Je Ne Sais Pas - ‘Pam’, being Pam O’Neill of Brisbane Bloodstock with whom Brooks had previously had a chance meeting.

“When Aaron told me he was looking to buy a horse I suggested he look down south for a horse that perhaps wasn’t quite up to the standard where he or she was competing, but who might be good enough to produce a result or two in Queensland,” said O’Neill, taking up the story.

“Peter Bredhauer, who is a Bloodstock Agent in Toowoomba suggested this horse,” continued O’Neill. “It was only about six weeks ago when the purchase was made.”

“Pam sat down with me and showed me the options and told me what she thought. So I went with her advice,” nodded Brooks, who thus, with a group of colleagues became the proud owners of their first racehorse.

Je Ne Sais Pas arrived in the yard of trainer Colin O’Neill (Pam’s husband) with a record of two wins and four places from thirteen starts. That indicated the stable had something to work with but the filly’s recent form also suggested there was plenty of work to be done.

Sadly Colin O’Neill has been fighting cancer for some time and the trainer could only do so much.

Enter Cherie O’Neill, Colin and Pam’s daughter, who has been assisting her father in the stable for the past year. It was Cherie O’Neill who played a pivotal role in the preparation of, not only Je Ne Sais Pas, but also the grey mare Checkit, who gave the stable an emotional and loudly cheered double later in the day.

Colin O’Neill was not at the track due to his ill health.

So it was that on the last day of the season, the O’Neill stable landed two winners. It was a happy send off from the training ranks for Colin O’Neill (who is not renewing his license) and a flying start for Cherie O Neill (who will be a licensed trainer in her own right when the new season kicks off).

Checkit has now been retired and Cherie O’Neill will start out with just three horses in training but the Je Ne Sais Pas / Checkit double has provided a massive boost for the stable’s self-confidence.

Things are always changing and few things should ever be taken for granted.

That is why it is great that Aaron Brooks and his fellow group of owners remembered to enjoy their moment in the sun when success came their way.

It was a lesson all race-goers should heed.