Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Early this century Shane Gaebler was well known as the part-owner, trainer and driver of smart pacing mare Billabong Girl before he concentrated on his business as a horse dentist.
Now the 51-year-old Gaebler is back in business in the sport of harness racing — after an absence of almost 18 years — and at Gloucester Park on Friday night he notched his first city win as a trainer since Billabong Girl won the WASBA Breeders Stakes after racing in the breeze for reinsman Shane Butterworth and beating Rich And Sassy by a neck in May 2005.
Friday night’s win came when Mitch Miller drove $17.70 chance Spring Line to an all-the-way win in the Xmas Functions Pace, beating the fast-finishing $7.50 chance Run For Mercy by a head.
Gaebler drove Billabong Girl for the first of her eleven wins, and the mare had 41 starts in WA for him for 21 wins, eight placings and stakes of $95,641.
Gaebler then sent her to Victoria where she won at her first appearance, as a $16.30 chance who was driven by Gavin Lang for a notable victory in the Navy Cup at Moonee Valley over champion and $1.10 favourite Sokyola, who had been successful at his previous six starts, and was later retired with a record of 161 starts for 78 wins, 42 placings and stakes of $1,890,990.
Apart from Billabong Girl’s wins, Gaebler also was successful with Another Notch Up, Rolling Sands, Jingara Star and Tonys Troubles in the early 2000s.
“I have always loved harness racing,” said Gaebler, who is still busy with his horse dentistry business but has time to train three pacers at his Oakford property. “I had been looking for a pacer for almost a year while watching replays of Eastern States races.
“I liked the way Spring Line raced and I bought him online for $9000, plus another couple of grand to get him over here.”
Gaebler then offered shares in Spring Line to a friend Glen Fraser and four thoroughbred trainers, Adam Durant, Rob Gulberti, Jason Miller and Rob Witten. Spring Line, a four-year-old by American sire Betting Line, has had ten starts for his new owners for three wins, three seconds and $20,949 in prizemoney.
Spring Line had raced 15 times for three wins (two at Wagga and one at Gunbower) and three placings when he was sold. Spring Line is the sixth foal out of Spring To Life, who won on debut at Kilmore in September 2010 before being unplaced at her next four starts and then being retired. He is closely related to Next Bonus, who had 126 starts for 45 wins (12 in Australia and 33 in America), 39 placings and $330,459 in stakes.
Mitch Miller stole a march on his rivals on Friday night when he got Spring Line away brilliantly from the outside barrier in the field of eight to burst straight to the front. Spring Line then set a solid pace and held on to beat Run For Mercy by a head, rating 1.57.1.