THE three leading horses in the Mailman Express were trained by Normanton man Paul Edwards.
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Edwards dedicates his victory to his father Mervyn, who died last week. His leading horse Arrow won with a time of 12.05 seconds.
Arrow had been the favourite to win in the Calcutta. The 10-year-old horse had been auctioned for $2800 in the Calcutta. It was a good investment for bidder Mick McConachy who benefited from the pool of $10,005.
Edwards had also trained second placer Casey, with a time of 12.20 seconds, and third placer Fearless, with a time of 12.30 seconds.
The trainer credited his success in the Mailman to “luck” when asked if there was something in the water at the Edwards stable.
“I had five in it,” Edwards said. He had trained last year’s Mailman winner Black Tracker, who competed again this year and had the third fastest time in the initial heat. Bidder Mal Barr had offered $1600 but Black Tracker came fifth with a final time of 12.47.
Edwards’ daughter Paula is Arrow’s owner. “It feels amazing,” Ms Edwards said when asked how the win felt.
She said that Arrow was a winning horse due to his temperament and racing style. Ms Edwards has owned him for four years and was nervous about his chances of success in the lead-up to this year’s Mailman.
Her partner, and the jockey, Phillip Harrison, said “(Arrow) has got the breed in him”.
“I have wanted him to win for a long time now,” Harrison said.
Last year Arrow and Harrison had come second and yet with a faster time of 11.92.
The best local horse of the night was Isana Temptation, who had the second fastest time in the initial heat and so logically attracted the second highest bid in the Calcutta. Wade Remington had bet $2000 on the local horse trained by Wendy Christie.
Yet Isana Temptation fell behind Edwards’ top three with a time of 12.37 in the final.
Sponsor CNW representatives Gary Martin and Gordon Nolan said it had been a great honour to be involved in the event. “I hope you all had a great day and a great night, and we are just pleased to be part of it,” they said.