MICHEAL RINKIN could easily still be selling motor cars and motor bikes.
Instead he has settled for a different type of horsepower – training racehorses.
And whilst he admits he has made plenty of mistakes in a few short years since being involved in the racing industry, he showed he is just as adept as selling a car by training his first winner at Broadmeadow last Tuesday with $101 roughie Movin’ Denman.
Ridden by Serg Lisnyy, the Denman gelding – a $6000 yearling purchase for Rinkin and his wife Gina at a Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale in March, 2020 – overpowered his rivals to take the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m).
“I thought he was one run short, and my wife and I had only a few dollars win and place (slightly more for the latter),” Rinkin said.
“But it least it got the monkey off my back. The money was irrelevant.
“I did have a bet on Movin’ Denman at his previous start at Scone in similar grade over 1400m, and put an apprentice on him.
“But the horse would not settle for him, so I brought him back to 1200m at Newcastle and gave senior jockey Serg Lisnyy the reins.
“The fast pace suited the horse, but I thought Serg was way too far back at the 600m before he steamed home over the last 200m.
“I love Serg. He also rode my other winner as a trainer; Tough Case at Muswellbrook in March last year.”
Rinkin, who can boast 35 years’ experience in the motor car industry, had dealerships at several NSW country centres before pulling the pin four years ago.,
“I got out early and retired,” he said.
Ironically, it was through one of his dealerships, at Muswellbrook, that he made his entry into the racing game a few years back.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t such a successful entry then.
“Muswellbrook trainer Mark Schmetzer bought a couple of bikes for his kids, and asked us to become involved in a yearling filly by Choisir, who raced as Gina’s Pride, named after my wife,” Rinkin explained.
“She won only one race (beating two rivals at Wean picnics in July 2019) from 10 starts, and had a throat problem that couldn’t be rectified and was retired.
“We also raced horses with other Muswellbrook trainers Luke Thomas and Justin Bowen and, having spent a lot of money, I decided to have a go myself at training two years ago.”
Rinkin went through the process of securing an owner-trainer’s licence – and is certainly giving his new venture his best shot.
“We’ve got a lovely property at Maitland, and have 40 horses here,” he said.
“They include youngsters by top sires such as Capitalist and Russian Revolution, and we bought 10 broodmares as well, getting good advice from the Justin family, which has two beautiful properties of more than 400 acres at Chatsworth Park at Scone.”
Rinkin keeps a dozen horses in work at a time, and floats them to Broadmeadow for fast work on Tuesday and Friday mornings, bringing six one morning and the other six the next time.
“We’ve got a track at home, but couldn’t get a trackwork rider when I first started and was working the horses six days a week at our property on a new treadmill I purchased,” he said.
“I was lining them up in races, and they were getting trounced. They weren’t fit enough.
“Since I’ve been coming to Broadmeadow, Rod Ollerton (fellow trainer) has been very helpful with advice.
“He is straight forward and I appreciate his assistance. I’d rather people tell me what’s wrong to my face rather than behind my back.
“Rod congratulated me after Movin’ Denman’s win the other day, and said I must be doing something right.
“I’m still learning of course.
“I had 35 years’ experience in the car game, and have been training for only two years.
“They’re both tough industries, but I’m loving what I’m doing.
“I train only our own horses, so there’s no one else to blame when things go wrong.”
. HOOFNOTE: Movin’ Denman has come through his Newcastle victory well, and Rinkin is looking to start him next at Scone on Sunday week (August 6).
*Words John Curtis, July 28, 2023 - Pics Bradley Photos*
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