Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
New Zealand-bred five-year-old Himself, who boosted his earnings past the $300,000 mark when he won the $31,000 Happy Birthday Hubert Tucker Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, has done a remarkable job after his career appeared doomed when he was seriously injured in his race debut in February 2020.
Himself, a son of American sire Sportswriter, broke down with tendon damage when he finished fifth behind Krug in the Group 3 New Zealand Sapling Stakes for two-year-olds at Ashburton.
This kept him out of action for 22 months before he was able to resume racing. He then had ten starts in New Zealand for three wins and four placings.
“Himself’s owners Robin Butt and his wife Jackie then sent him over to us on a harvest deal (50-50 share),” said champion WA trainer Greg Bond. “And the horse has exceeded all expectations, winning the Golden Nugget (last December) and finishing fourth in the Fremantle Cup in January.
“He is now definitely heading towards the WA Pacing Cup (on November 10) and maybe the Nullarbor in April. But that’s a long way down the track.”
Himself was the $1.40 favourite from the coveted No. 1 barrier in Friday night’s 2130m event in which Deni Roberts withstood an early challenge from Prince Of Pleasure and then set the pace, with $9.50 chance The Mustang enjoying the perfect sit behind the leader.
The final quarters were run in 28.8sec. and 27.3sec. and Himself had to be driven hard by Roberts to hold off the strong-finishing The Mustang to win by a head, rating 1.57.1.
“Himself never makes it look easy,” explained Bond, who prepares the gelding with his wife Skye. “It’s always hard work. But he never gives it away; he just sticks and sticks. What he lacks in brilliance he makes up in strength.”
Himself has now had 21 starts in WA for eleven wins and four seconds, taking his record to 32 starts for 14 wins, eight placings and stakes of $309,621. He is out of the McArdle mare Shards Of Myross (21 starts for one win, four placings and $7135) whose half-brother Likmesiah raced 81 times for 13 wins, 17 placings and $427,965. Likmesiah was a Group 1 winner as a two-year-old and won the Group 1 New Zealand Derby at Addington in April 2004 before wining two Group 2 feature events as a four-year-old.