They say patience is a virtue and that adage was on full display in the opening race at Dapto last Thursday night, when three-and-a-half-year-old debutant - Spinning Top - saluted in her ever first race start.
The surprise win delighting owner Steven Crompton, who admitted he was unsure she’d ever make it to the track, let alone win a race.
“It’s kind of been a running joke that by the time she won a maiden she’d be ready for masters,” Crompton joked.
“But in all seriousness, six weeks ago I called Charlie [Gatt] who is training her for me and asked how she was going. He umm’d and ahh’d a bit and then two weeks ago she won a trial at Richmond and ran quick time so we thought maybe the penny had dropped and she was ready to go,” he said.
The daughter of Barcia Bale out of Lochinvar Holly has had to navigate a long and difficult road to the track - with a freak accident at a mate’s property earlier this year almost ending her career.
“We had her out in a paddock having a trot around and she took off. She hurdled a four-foot fence and kept running and by the time we eventually caught her she’d hurt her leg pretty bad. It nearly finished her but I put her in the kennel and worked with her until she was right and boy what a thrill to see her win last night,” Crompton said.
Crompton purchased Spinning Top and two other dogs from Kevin Gordon several months ago in the hope of training them himself, however once work commitments became too much, he handed the duties over to close friend and Group race winning trainer - Charlie Gatt.
“Charlie is one hell of a guy and he’s no mug with a lead and collar, so when I decided I needed to get someone else to train them, he’s the bloke I knew would do a fantastic job. He’s full of integrity and I can’t sign his praises high enough,” Crompton said.
Gatt, a man of few words, was perhaps the most surprised post-race when asked about his oldest maiden winner to date.
“I must admit I never thought she would get to the races. When I got her off Steve she’d never raced, never seen a 500, never done much so I thought I better put her in before she decides she doesn’t want to chase and here we are with a winner,” Gatt said.
And on a night when the Group 1 Sportsbet Megastar heats captured the attention of most chasing fans - the win of Spinning Top in the first event, certainly gave the Crompton family their biggest thrill.
“Me and the wife were at home on the lounge having a beer and getting pretty boisterous as she [Spinning Top] rounded the bend. My youngest son works night shift and he thought there was something wrong so he rushed out to see me and the wife cheering and going off. It was fantastic,” Crompton said.
The Crompton-Gatt combination link up again on Tuesday at Bulli with the lightly-raced Alexander.
