Racing: Life on the beach works winning magic

Run Like Al beats Mill Duckie (yellow and green colours) and Alagant Satin (blue and yellow) on Saturday. Photo / Supplied

We all like going to the beach, don't we?

Well, then, there should be no mystery why a horse also likes the beach.

Sun, surf, fresh air - they all have a positive effect on our thought patterns.

They've made a big difference to the mental state of Run Like Al, tearaway winner of Saturday's $70,000 Eagle Technology Stakes at Ellerslie.

Remember the horse that looked so good finishing second to Keepa Cruisin in the group one Levin Classic two years ago?

That was Run Like Al, but he turned into the Run Like Al that hadn't won a race in 15 starts in the two years since the Levin Classic, even though one of the two placings he came up with was a terrific third to Seachange in the group one Waikato Draught Sprint last year.

Enter Jakki Good, or even more specifically, enter the often windswept stretches of Waiuku Beach.

Paul Moroney was getting little sleep wondering how he could turn Run Like Al's form around. Moroney knew the horse's talent, he simply couldn't find it and suggested to his owners a change of location might result in a flip of fortunes.

It did.

Run Like Al loved the open spaces and quieter environment of the beach and a month ago scored his first win in two years with a runaway four-length Ellerslie victory.

Saturday's win at his next start was a much bigger fish. "He's a happy horse at the moment," said 44-year-old Good.

Classy sprinter Richard Beymer, a big winner at Pukekohe last week, is another testament to Good's beach training.

Jakki Good looks like someone who should be either working the land or working horses.

When she left school she says she spent two very, very tough years working in an office.

Her desire for fresh air saw her show up, unemployed at Ellerslie one morning when the country's leading racetrack was still a training centre.

"I began riding work for Merv and Gary Ritchie and Peter, Brian and Harvey Wadham."

She had not previously thrown a leg over a racehorse.

Good moved to Pukekohe, bought a 10-acre block, pottered around with a "very slow horse by Dorchester", sold the block of land, bought another opposite the Pukekohe track, sold that and nine years ago bought the Waiuku beach property.

Good has one fulltime staff member in Di Stephens, who she says has been with her "forever" and Emily Read, who rides work and helps out raceday.

"I range between 10 and 12 horses and have always insisted I don't want more.

"Horses thrive in a small environment and that's the way I want to keep it. And I don't want to be rushed off my feet."

It hasn't been easy at times for Jakki Good, but she is one of racing's real enthusiasts, someone who is not in it for huge financial reward.

More the lifestyle and satisfaction.

"I don't worry about money, just as long as there's enough there at the end of the month to pay the bills."

Richard Beymer and Run Like Al have guaranteed that lately.