RACING
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Guy Walter likes to keep the good ones close by - those fillies and mares who he somehow seems to get so much more out of than any other trainer can manage.
They're only ever a few brisk strides away from the back door of his house, roughly a furlong from Warwick Farm track.
In one box is stationed Zanbagh, the filly responsible for handing the master a fifth Illawarra Mercury Keith Nolan Classic [1600m].
Two boxes down stands Appearance, the winner of the same race two years ago.
Co-incidence? Probably not.
They're special horses for a special trainer.
"Any horse," says owner-breeder Sandy Tait, when asked about his trainer's record with fillies
"He's the best trainer in Australia.
"You probably can't say that because all trainers are different but he's [an] amazing trainer of horses - colts or geldings or fillies."
Tait would know, better than most, of Walter's ability with a stopwatch and eye.
The pair raced Tie The Knot together and the red colours look set for more majors this autumn.
Wouldn't the Illawarra Turf Club love to have Walter back again.
On a day where modest crowd numbers cast a pall over proceedings on Kembla Grange's biggest race day, Walter was always the one constant.
He's seen enough of these days not to get too overexcited about this year's latest fashion or promotion, a $20,000 car unlocked with the very first attempt.
If you had to give the keys to one trainer to unlock a filly, Walter would be the one you'd choose.
And if it was any good, you'd know where it would be - always close by.