By David Nagel
The big guns of the Pakenham training ranks had to share centre stage this week after Ebony Tucker struck gold when Full of Theories proved too strong for his rivals to win the $22,000 Lakes Entrance Cup (1200m) at Bairnsdale on Sunday.
Full of Theories has been a terrific money-spinner for the Tucker camp, with Sunday’s victory taking his career prizemoney to a tick over the $200,000 mark. The seven-year-old son of Danesis-Jubilant Spirit has now won seven of his 59 starts since making the switch from the Greg Hayes yard at the beginning of 2018.
Tucker, herself, is relatively inexperienced and still learning her craft in the thoroughbred ranks, but knows her way around horses, after a promising equestrian career that reached its pinnacle when she represented Australia in Trans-Tasman competition at Berrima, New South Wales.
She also played a key role in preparing and training All Luck, who would eventually move on and win a silver medal in equestrian at the Olympics.
“They’re all horses, but it’s a completely different discipline,” Tucker, who lives in Warragul, explained.
“I sort of fell into thoroughbred training a few years back now but never really had any intention to do so. But it’s a great environment at Pakenham. We get down there three or four days a week and ride my own trackwork.”
Tucker co-trains with the owner of Full of Theories, breeder John Pratt, and the pair had mixed feelings heading into Sunday’s run.
“John is always the optimist and I’m the pessimist but he did tell me he thought he would go close,” Tucker said.
“I thought he would run well, but it’s hard to win races…but I guess John was right this time around.”
Full of Theories certainly didn’t have things go his own way on Sunday. Hunted up by apprentice jockey Carleen Hefel – the eventual winner was camped three and four wide the trip before looking to weaken at the furlong post.
But horse and jockey dug deep, with Full of Theories pulling away on the line to score by just over a length from the Robbie Griffiths/Mat de Kock-trained Miss Kansas.
“That’s exactly how he runs his races and what he is known for,” Tucker explained.
“You think he’s gone but he always fights back, I knew he’d run well even off a light preparation.”
Full of Theories had done some light work heading in, but came to Bairnsdale with only one jump-out over 1000-metres on a heavy track to his name. Tucker is hoping Full of Theories will hit top form for the upcoming synthetic season at Pakenham…clearly his favourite surface.
She talks in tones about her horse that would suggest they almost best mates.
“He’s amazing, he’s had his issues over the years but every trainer will tell you they have a once-in-a lifetime horse, and he’s it for me,” Tucker said.
“He’s been so good to me, not just from a training point of view but he’s just the best horse to be around. He qualified for the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final on Oaks Day in 2018 and even though things didn’t pan out that was a great experience to share.”
Tucker is unsure when she will next step Full of Theories out to the track.
Phillip Stokes will be a relieved man after the Pakenham trainer’s talented three-year-old gelding Kermy scored an effortless maiden victory at Pakenham on Thursday night.
The well-bred son of Kermadec-Assertive Sound has been bashing the door down in his five-start career, following a fine debut with a series of placings at Pakenham, Sale and Cranbourne.
Jockey Michael Poy – the son of retired champion hoop Michael Clarke – rode the short-priced favourite like nothing else had a chance, staying wide down the back straight before easing to the lead before the first turn.
The $1.30 shot then withstood a brief challenge from Suffragette, before using the final furlong marker as a slingshot and careering away to a four-to-five length lead. Poy engaged the handbrake over the final stages to cut a potential six-length win to roughly half that margin at the winning post.
Stokes had another great week on the track, scoring a double with Fan Club and Ears The Barman at Cranbourne on Friday night before Whipcraker Way saluted at Hillside on Saturday.
Peter Moody joined Stokes and Tucker on this week’s exclusive Pakenham training list when Eagle Hawk Star won race three at Cranbourne on Friday night.
