Racing: Horror moment for Noel before Derby dream comes true

By MIKE DILLON

Noel Harris' life flew in front of his eyes on the home bend in yesterday's $350,000 Derby at Ellerslie.

The 45-year-old, big-winning jockey has waited all his riding career to win a Derby.

On the bend he was certain he was going to win on Hail.

Two strides later he was more certain he would retire a Derby maiden.

Hail was squeezed between Sir Clive and the Derby favourite Danamite and suddenly there was nowhere for Harris and Hail to improve.

"You have no idea what flashed through my mind at that point," said a much-relieved Harris.

"We were gone for all money.

"Any other horse and we could not have won."

Sir Clive was the main contributor to Harris' home turn woes and Harris had great delight in saying to his rival rider Grant Cooksley: "Gotcha" as Hail swept past to win in the closing strides.

Harris has a massive opinion of Hail and after the race-saving sprint the gelding turned on to pick up Sir Clive, who looked certain to win, it is difficult not to share that opinion.

"He will run two miles this horse. He is so athletic and has such an enormous stride he could win a big two-mile cup."

If Harris has a doubt about the Bruce Marsh-trained Hail it is that because of his long stride he has the potential to get into trouble in sit-and-sprint weight-for-age racing as a 4-year-old.

"He's got all the gears, but if he got into trouble he's the sort that may not get out of it well."

It was a great day for Harris, whose four winners included the $100,000 Armacup Queen Elizabeth Handicap on Nikisha.

Co-owner Ali Robinson met Bruce Marsh over Sunday drinks around the stump at a Wairoa race meeting 25 years ago.

"I had horses with Baggy Hillis at the time and I was down there with Baggy," said the Waiuku supermarket owner.

"I said to Bruce: "Is there any chance of having a horse in your stable?"

Marsh picks up the story.

"Ali said: "I can't afford much like some of your flash owners, but I've got $15,000 for a half share of something. I thought that was a fortune in those days.

"Needless to say it didn't take me long to find him a horse."

That horse was Mr Stubby, which was sold for $100,000 after winning two races and the pair have had a highly successful partnership for a quarter of a century. Yesterday it reached a new level.

Mr Esteem is one of the stars the pair race and they have a tidy juvenile in Mission about to make a name for himself.

Takanini filly Ma Victoire furthered her improvement of recent weeks by taking third ahead of Karadan, who finished well, and the favourite Danamite, who had every chance.

"It could be that he's another horse like Corndale that has to have rock hard footing, but I'm not using that as an excuse, he had every chance," said trainer Roger James.

"Vinny said the horse was travelling beautifully most of the way, in fact he said at the 800m he was having to pull him back from getting on Tit For Taat's heels."

Tit For Taat had not previously raced beyond 1600m and showed with his finish that he may never do so successfully.

He beat only Citiman and Sectare Fidem and rider Hayden Tinsley said he stopped so quickly he felt for a moment that was something wrong.

There were no excuses for the beaten lot. Hail proved he was a coming star and Sir Clive left the impression he will one day win the big race that has so cruelly eluded him. Unfortunately, it will not be in New Zealand.