By BARRY STREET
After about 25 years as a racing owner, trainer and administrator, Jim McConnell of Thames has learned to roll with the punches and accept the good and the bad.
He has also become passionate about his hobby and part-livelihood.
Evidence of that came on Saturday after McConnell's former sprinter Mighty Mac led all the way in the Big Kahuna 2100 at Ellerslie.
McConnell had tears in his eyes as friends kissed and congratulated him.
Mighty Mac was eighth favourite but in the hands of Lee Rutherford was always handily clear and ran his rivals ragged by two and a quarter lengths.
"There was no taking the race off him today," whooped McConnell.
Having filled every position possible on the Thames Jockey Club, from steward to committeeman, vice-president, president and now secretary-manager, McConnell likes nothing more than to win races on his home track.
But at this year's popular annual Thames race meeting on January 4 he was denied that privilege when Mighty Mac won over 1700m only to be relegated to fifth after changing ground and causing interference.
It was the second time Mighty Mac had lost a race in the inquiry room.
"Not to mention three other races in which he was beaten a nose," McConnell reminded.
Mighty Mac's making amends at Ellerslie was the next best thing to winning at Thames, he said.
McConnell bred Mighty Mac, who got the reputation of being a 1000m horse early in his career when raced by another Thames identity, Kevin McLean.
These days McLean's health has not been good, so McConnell has taken over the ownership again.
"He could be the best horse I've raced," McConnell enthused, "and I've had a few good ones like Oakvale, Nicholas James, Mondo Mel and Zain Again.
"He [Mighty Mac] has the speed for 1000m races but walks like a stayer.
"I've always said he'd be a better stayer than a sprinter.
"He proved that today. I told Lee to press the button at the 800m. She did, and you saw what happened!"
* * *
It was only an 800m scamper that 2-year-old Lady Tess won at Ellerslie on Saturday.
That goes with an 880m winning debut at Pukekohe last month.
But, as with Mighty Mac, it could be unwise to label her purely and simply a speed machine.
Lady Tess has the makings of a professional racehorse, according to co-owner Peter Milich.
Milich was in charge of Lady Tess on Saturday while his trainer son, Paul of Tuakau, was holidaying in Russell.
"I didn't much like the look of her after we bought her [for about $40,000]," Milich said, "mainly because she hardly grew between being a yearling and a 2-year-old.
"But look at her now. She's built like a brick ....house.
"She's is as quiet as a lamb; she has a beautiful temperament, and she is a treat to have around the stable.
"I told Linda [Ballantyne] today to treat her as she would a 7-year-old gelding. Keep at her, and she'll keep giving."
That was sound advice. Lady Tess began tardily and was three wide into the straight but responded to everything Ballantyne asked of her to score in a blanket finish from Montchanin, Headliner, who was forced four wide, and Prude.
The $500,000 Mercedes Super Bonus Classique, over 1200m at Te Rapa on February 3, may be Lady Tess' next race.
In that she faces a clash with Flying Babe, a three-times winner.
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