Racing: Bary continues the family tradition

Jonathan Riddell guides Jimmy Choux to victory in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

Hastings horseman John Bary is from a family steeped in New Zealand thoroughbred excellence, growing up with a Melbourne Cup trophy on the mantelpiece of his family home and both parents involved in racing.

But it was only a few years ago that Bary first entertained the thought of being a horse trainer and on Saturday he made his own bit of history for the family name when producing Jimmy Choux to win the $1 million Two Thousand Guineas at Riccarton.

With such a pedigree in thoroughbred racing, it would seem only natural Bary would have long considered becoming a trainer. But that was not the case.

"It was only by accident I got into training. We bought a horse and later sold it for good money overseas.

"I thought 'this is a bit of fun'. I had a couple of mates who said 'let's get some horses' and it all sort evolved from there."

Bary, who turns 41 next Thursday, had previously been involved with horses but it was in the sport of polo. He had eight years overseas as a professional polo player before returning to Hawkes Bay as a farmer.

Bary's great-great grandfather, George Stead, is the family's racing patriarch. He was the leading New Zealand owner 12 times in the 1890s and 1900s, was a leading figure in forming rules for racing, was involved in the administration of the Canterbury Jockey Club for 30 years and headed a move to have totalisator betting at all New Zealand meetings.

Then there was Stead's son, Wilfred. He, too, was a leading owner and had the honour of winning the 1916 Melbourne Cup with Sasanof.

Bary remembers the Melbourne Cup trophy standing above the fireplace at his home but admitted it meant little to him until recent years.

"I always knew we had a Melbourne Cup because it was there sitting on the mantelpiece every time I lit the fire," he said.

Bary said it was not until about five years ago, when he accompanied his mother to a function for the formation of a hall of fame for New Zealand racing, that he understood the deeds of greatness achieved by George Stead. He was the inaugural inductee to the hall of fame.

"I didn't realise how much he had done in the industry and just how famous he was."

Bary now proudly has Stead's racing colours of a yellow jacket and black cap as his stable colours and has made great strides since becoming a trainer little more than two years ago.

It was only a year ago he trained his first winner but last season he racked up 19 wins, including a group two race with Jimmy Choux in Wellington and a group three race with The Hombre in Brisbane.

Jimmy Choux, this season, has since added a group two win in the Hawkes Bay Guineas last month and Saturday's group one 1600m feature for 3-year-olds.

Jimmy Choux ended up a $4.10 favourite with track conditions being heavy and jockey Jonathan Riddell, also a top jumps rider, had the Thorn Park colt handily placed in fourth position for much of the race.

He got through on the inner at the top of the straight, cruised to the lead and, after being headed by fourth favourite Twilight Savings, fought back to score by a long neck.

Second was second favourite He's Remarkable, who got well back but finished strongly, despite rider Matthew Cameron being reduced to slapping the horse over the neck with his hand after breaking his whip inside the last300m.

Half a head away third was Twilight Savings, while Remember Howe was a long neck away fourth after running home strongly.

- NZPA