NAMING racehorses can be a difficult art!
Some owners, often out of frustration, combine portion of the names of the sire and dam to come up with a result.
Such certainly wasn’t the case with Wyong trainer Rod Bailey, who had no trouble naming Sunday’s home track winner Norton Road.
The five-year-old gelding got his name courtesy of The Honeymooners, a popular American sitcom of the 1950s.
“I used to watch The Honeymooners, and the main character Jackie Gleason played the part of a New York bus driver called Ralph (Kramden),” Bailey explained.
“He was short-tempered and often bullied his best friend Ed Norton (played by Art Carney).
“As I trained a horse called Different Road, it was easy to name Norton Road as both were sired by Stratum Star.”
Bailey bought Norton Road as a yearling for $7500 online through Inglis Digital in March 2021, and his daughter Bridget races the gelding.
Because Norton Road had growing pains and kept going shin sore, the start of his racing career was put on hold and he didn’t debut until January 18 on his home track at Wyong.
On the strength of a Rosehill Gardens barrier trial (1030m) victory on December 29, he started favorite in a 1200m Provincial Maiden and led throughout to score easily.
Norton Road repeated the dose at Newcastle on February 3, again leading throughout in a Class 1 Handicap (1300m).
Bailey gave him a spell and until Sunday, Norton Road had not recaptured that form in four starts since resuming.
But his trainer never lost faith and was confident a firmer track at Wyong would help him get back into winning form – and he did exactly that in the Domeland sponsored Kulnura Cup (a 1300m Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap),
Ridden by Jenny Duggan, Norton Road started at $17 and defeated the Domeland-owned $2.60 favorite Spicy Hotpot.
“I was relieved to see him win another race,” Bailey admitted.
“Nothing had really gone right in those four previous runs.
“I tried winkers on him, which was a mistake, and the wet tracks didn’t help either.
“His run at Newcastle when fourth (in a 1250m Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap) in June on a very heavy track was good.
“He chased the leader, hit the front in the straight and was collared only in the last 100m and just beaten on the post for third.”
Now that Norton Road is in winning form again, Bailey is keen to build the gelding’s confidence by finding another suitable race at the provincials.
“We might have to go to town for a midweek or a Saturday Midway, but I would prefer to first give him his chance to win again at the provincials where there is less pressure.”
It’s a real family affair with Norton Road, as son Callum now owns the gelding’s dam Ransack, a Lonhro mare who began her racing career with Darley/Godolphin.
“Ransack had only a few starts for Darley, and had a number of trainers, and Tamworth’s Sue
Grills won a 950m Maiden Plate with her by six lengths at the annual Wallabadah meeting on New Year’s Day 2017,” Bailey said.
“When we realised Norton Road was showing ability before he had his first start, Callum was able to buy Ransack in foal to Your Song for not a lot of money.
“That foal (a filly named Foray) has just turned two and is a big mature type, unlike Norton Road.
“I don’t think she will take anywhere near as long as her half-brother to get to the races.”
. HOOFNOTE: Norton Road’s younger full brothers, a four-year-old named Star Swindler (trained at Dubbo) and three-year-old Ransaigh Star (trained at Cessnock) are yet to face the starter.
“I had a look at both of them, but knew they would also take plenty of time to get to the track,” Bailey said.
Story John Curtis, August 5, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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