Kembla-based Rolling Pin will chasing more success in the Epsom Handicap today. Picture: DARREN PATEMAN
By his own admission, Scott Brodie is no genius when it comes to racehorses.
More likely to be seen poring through financial records of the Illawarra Turf Club than a Kembla Grange form guide, Brodie has followed a good friend into his latest ownership venture - and is enjoying every minute.
"I don't pretend to understand racing that much, but I'm informed there's some really good horseflesh in this race on Saturday," he said.
The race Brodie is referring to is the high point of Sydney's spring carnival - the $500,000 Epsom Handicap (1600m) run over Randwick's notoriously tough mile.
The galloper he will be hoping can further inject prizemoney into a rapidly-growing kitty is Kembla-based Rolling Pin, a horse Brodie followed successful breeder and businessman Matthew Sandblom into ownership of.
"I'm the auditor at the [Illawarra] Turf Club and that's as close as I get to a horsey bloke," Brodie joked.
"When I go to the board meeting all the directors say, 'how do you get winners Scott when you know nothing about it?' The key to life is good partnering. Always have someone who knows more than you in your life."
Sandblom, who was considering making a mad dash back to Australia from business commitments in the United States to watch Rolling Pin, has also teamed up with Brodie in racing gallopers before.
They had the stakes-placed Occurrence who was second in the 2008 Surround Stakes behind Chinchilla Rose when under the care of Bart Cummings, but nothing as successful as Rolling Pin.
Purchased by Sandblom for $60,000 at the 2009 New Zealand Premier Yearling Sales, Rolling Pin has more than justified his early promise with back-to-back wins in the Cameron Handicap (1500m) and Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Group level.
"Matthew's a very successful man in his own business and environment, but he's passionate about his horses," Brodie said.
"I wouldn't say I'm as passionate, but I do get excited when we have something like Rolling Pin considering what he's done of late.
"I've basically thrown my lack of wisdom into the pot and am more than happy to go with him on some things he finds."
But what Brodie does know is that Rolling Pin couldn't be in the care of a more accomplished trainer in Gwenda Markwell.
"She's got a sense for horses and doesn't destroy them," Brodie said.
"All our horses have had more success as four and five-year-olds compared to two and three-year-olds."
Markwell will take two shots at Group1 glory today after she enlists the services of Christian Reith to ride Rolling Pin, listed at $26 in fixed odds markets last night.
Progressive stayer Peal Of Bells, who chased home Glencadam Gold in the Newcastle Cup, has squeezed into The Metropolitan (2400m) field.
It's a race Markwell has enjoyed success in before after Lodge The Deeds finished second behind Speed Gifted in 2008.