Muswellbrook trainer Pat Farrell will long be remembered as not only one of the Hunter Valley’s finest horseman but as a noted mentor of successful jockeys.
You can also add nurturer of successful trainers, such as his latest success story Tim McIntosh.
Not far behind was McIntosh, another who started his riding career in the Farrell stable.
Farrell’s second generation nephew, McIntosh was a very accomplished rider but increasing weight restricted him to a short career in the saddle.However it has led to what could be a very fruitful career as a trainer at Muswellbrook alongside his uncle and tutor.
Well respected as a horse breaker and pre-trainer, McIntosh showed his training talent last Saturday when he won at Randwick with his first ever metropolitan starter.McIntosh produced the unheralded Star Shaft to win the TAB Highway Handicap for the four-year-old gelding’s second win from 11 starts for a syndicate led by Hunter Valley businessman Craig Benjamin.
Star Shaft, by the Flying Spur stallion Shaft from Good Question (Hula Chief), was not put through sales.However his winning half-brother Quiz Master sold at the Scone yearling sale for only $3000 and their dam Good Question was bought as a broodmare for just $1250 from the Scone sales in 2007.
Good Question is out of Mukda Lass, an unraced daughter of speed sire Mukaddamah.Dame Fashion, the fourth dam of Star Shaft, was a sister by Bold Aussie to Bold Personality, the handy performer who earned notoriety when he won under the name of the infamous ring-in Fine Cotton in Brisbane in 1984.
Shaft, a Silver Slipper Stakes winner, was also represented by winners last weekend at Newcastle, the Gold Coast and Kembla Grange.He started his stud career as a Darley sire but is now standing at Hardwicke Stud at Yass in southern NSW.
