The Star Court's In Session

The object of a front runner is to grind the rivals into the ground - take them out of their comfort zone as you power along.

That is the case in every walk of life - be it sport, business, politics or any other combative domain.

With horse racing, the leader is likely to be the most vulnerable one on the track. They are there to be challenged and there to be beaten.

Those types of warriors are eulogized when they become great. From those back in the golden ages of the sport to more modern heroes like the late Vo Rogue, there is a special cheer given by the masses, whether they have financially supported them or not.

In the public's eye, there might be more heralded horses to win major races in this country, there might have been faster ones, there might be bigger ones but a bold lure is a much admired beast.

That was certainly the case for a couple seasons when Court's In Session raced - or 'Tiger' as he was known around the stable.

Owned by a syndicate led by Peter Cruickshank and family, he was originally trained by William Pholi and began his career up on the Northern Rivers at Ballina where he ran some nice races, going through the grades. In fact he had over a dozen starts up there, winning on seven occasions.

He was very much a family pet as can best be explained when you consider his dam, Markatie Court, was the amalgam of Peter's children's name (Mark, Katie & Courtney). Hence the legal theme of his registered name, being a son of Bureaucracy (a winner himself of the G1 George Ryder Stakes in 1991).

A much loved family member, 'Tiger' was well versed in the caper of striding along once the gates opened during those formative times. Cruickshank indicated, “Bill remarked I think we have got a leader here Peter and that was the racing pattern that worked by far the best.”

He didn't win a race he couldn't find the front in. And not much was to change despite some new scenery.

In late 2004, Court's In Session was transferred to renowned Warwick Farm conditioner Guy Walter on the recommendation of top hoop Glen Boss who had won on him at Eagle Farm.

The post mortem with Boss generated encouraging news. “It was after that Stradbroke Day when I had lunch with Glen in Sydney and he suggested this horse had the potential to win a million dollars if he was sent to Sydney. Hearing that from a champion jockey made me realise he might be well above average,” Peter said.

By the time he ran in the Hawkesbury Cup three runs into his tenure with Walter, he announced himself as a horse on the rise and one to be reckoned with. Five and a half lengths was the ground between him and the vanquished. As favourite in the Villiers, he may have been brought undone through his speed when it took a still standing track record to roll him late.

After that first preparation when trained at Warwick Farm, he came back in the Autumn of 2005 to fulfill a Group One destiny.

An Expressway win at Randwick (at 20-1) was followed by two close seconds on the traditional WFA campaign behind Grand Armee. Then came the opportunity to strike.

Golden Slipper day offered the right mix of track, form, conditions and had Hugh Bowman ready to rock and roll. 'Court's' went straight to the front as usual in the George Ryder.

It delivered a 'the Magic Carpet Ride' as the family succinctly put it - made even more special as Peter told his son Mark before the race that if 'Tiger' won he was going to donate some much needed funds to some special charities close to their family' heart. Good things do happen.

From the excitement, thrills and positivity of Rosehill to the mayhem, anguish and drama of Randwick nine days later.

You could be nothing but proud of his run in the Doncaster. That was one of thoughts going through Peter Cruickshank's mind during and after the great mile.

Absolutely hung, drawn and quartered for most of the race, Court's In Session had the temerity to fight off all rivals up the rise. Just as his renewed jockey Glen Boss must have been thinking how to celebrate, the conquered from the Ryder in the shape of his stablemate, Patezza, with all his leg screws intact, took a split and rolled over him.

Guy Walter, who had just historically prepared the trifecta in the Mile (Danni Martene third), was somewhat bemused by the enormity of what had been personally achieved.

However the Court's In Session team surely felt they could so easily have been the ones to lead home the field after he was manically driven mad in front by 60-1 shot Osca Warrior. Remember the Doncaster is one of the toughest races to win in Australia and having bred him plus loving what that race represents, it must have been tough to take. At the very least there was some mitigation in their trainer's accomplishment.

Seventeen months of spluttering form and ups and downs occurred next. Did he have anything left in him? Was he finished?

His last preparation was to contain two great highs and one terrible low.

Consider this. His first up Warwick Stakes win was by a head but he defeated the likes of Racing To Win, Desert War, Eremein, Aqua D'Amore, Headturner, Grand Zulu, Railings, Ice Chariot and Dizelle - all Group One winners. That is high praise isn't it to beat that quality?

Then he came north to Newcastle and after being asked to carry a record weight of 60.5kg, he did his usual thing for Danny Beasley out in front? The weight was some query but how did he start 5-2 that day - unbelievable!!! The Broadmeadow crowd knew they had seen something of great heart and tenacity.

With the money that arrived that day for his rival Malcolm, there was some trepidation in the camp he would be taken on fiercely again. As Peter says, “Luckily Tiger didn't read betting boards and staved off all challenges.”

With some melancholy, you had to assess his last official day at the races as a disaster. The George Main was seen as another great chance for the warhorse to dazzle in front. But as things turned out, it was a miracle he came home.

Just under the half mile all looked lost. From being in the lead, he dropped out quicker than a Dennis Lillee thunderbolt. Only horses that have suffered bad bleeds or broken bones stop with such haste. His owners thought they had lost him and it hit them hard.

“In all sincerity the horse was probably at his best at this stage and coming to the turn, to use Danny's words, he had “gassed” Desert War. Danny then gave him a bit more leather, he took two strides and sustained the injury but the horse still wanted to race on, it took all Danny's strength to pull him up.”

With a degree of wonder, and with the help of track staff and all concerned with the horse, he was saved. But that was not how things appeared at first.

“When we went up to the top of the straight, Chief Vet Craig Suann explained the damage and he was only hanging on by a mere thread of his tendon. It was nearly the end but thankfully the vets did a terrific job of saving him.”

The impact was still difficult on all involved. Shattered probably best explains it.

Court's In Session was slowly able to rebound and now lives on the Cruickshank farm at Laguna, South West of Cessnock. Now a twelve year old, he still has a frolic not far from his mother and lives the life all idols of the turf should be able to lead. Another Spring of warming weather will perhaps help any arthritic joints.

Importantly the family can still look at him every day and remember those 'Magical Carpet Ride' moments.

And for Peter and the owners, while it's feasible they won't get another as good or one as valiant, once you've been lucky to do that, you treasure the memories.