Our nomination for Owner of the month for August is Lynda Elies, part owner of Gigabyte winner of both the Port Augusta and Whyalla Cups. Like both of last month’s nominees Gigabyte is owned by an all ladies syndicate. One of the syndicate members Colleen Manning takes up the story for us: To quote Terry McAuliffe Gigabyte is ‘ a great big strong son of Fastnet Rock’ – and we love him! Gigabyte is owned by an all-girl syndicate formed by Colleen Manning with her great friends Lynda Elies, Dianne Fullerton, Keryn Hilder & Leanne Press; daughters Virginia Chambers, Johanna Manning and Bridie McArdle; and sisters Ann Marie Pick, Sharon Rankin & Fiona Morgan. Five members live in Port Augusta and the rest live in country South Australia – spread from Saddleworth to Coober Pedy. The syndicate came about because we were all fans of thoroughbred racing. We had enjoyed many seasons watching and cheering our husbands’ or fathers’ horses race and we thought it was about time we had a horse of our own. We purchased Gigabyte in February 2013. Our trainer Darren Bonetti (Port Augusta) sourced him on our behalf from Danny O’Brien’s stables in Victoria. He wasn’t up to Metro standard over there but Darren thought Gigabyte could do well for us at Port Augusta. Darren was right! Gigabyte had a great first campaign. He had six starts at Port Augusta in 2013 and was unplaced only once. We were on top of the moon! The following year started quite slowly with Gigabyte running in Adelaide for a couple of starts but he was not really very happy about racing. In fact, 2014 was a pretty ordinary year for Gigabyte with many injuries.  Darren has always had great faith in this horse and followed Vets advice to spell him for a full year to get Gigabyte right. After a 60 week spell we were VERY excited to have him back racing again for the Port Augusta 2015 season. However, Gigabyte somehow managed to kick himself in the stable and was scratched the morning of the first meeting. Darren had him all ready to start again at the 3rd Port Augusta meeting. We often say that watching Gigabyte race is like watching your own child compete. We just want him to try hard and not get injured. He did try very hard in that 1200m race and came home 3rd. We were thrilled and Darren said he badly needed the run. He had 2 more starts, one 1100m at Hawker – he came 6th and another 1396m at Port Augusta – where he came 5th. After that race Darren said he had a plan, he thought that Gigabyte, with his great burst of speed at the start of every race and good constant pace throughout the remainder of the race, needed more ground. Darren is not only the trainer but the track work rider, strapper and everything else. He really knows his horses, so we all said “OK Darren.” Gigabyte entered the 1867m McDouall Peak Squatters Cup on Sunday 21st of June. He ran a great race, he burst out of the barrier, went straight to the front and led them all home into the straight. He did get caught in the straight and ended up a very admirable second, we were all over-joyed. Darren said he thought even more ground would suit and he said he was nominating Gigabyte for the 2015 City of Port Augusta Cup. On Cup day we were all beside ourselves with excitement and tried hard to keep it contained but failed miserably, Darren told us “Don’t worry, he’s going OK. We might need a bit of luck but he’s trained really well and the plan is – they’ll have to catch him.” Gigabyte not only won the 2300m 2015 City of Port Augusta Cup – he ran the others ragged and won by 3 ½ lengths – Siggy Carr and Gigabyte stole it right from under their noses. He led from go to whoa AND broke the track record. The feeling was unbelievable. Joy, elation, disbelief, pride, jubilation……… Darren then told us he would naturally be running in the City of Whyalla Cup a fortnight later. We were just as excited but it was a shorter race – 1867m and we did not want to expect too much of our Champ. However, the Gigabyte and Siggy Carr combination did it again! They led from go to whoa and took out the 2015 City of Whyalla Cup, winning by ¾ of a length! For this group of country ladies, who just love their horse and enjoy the fun and the friendships that thoroughbred racing brings, 2015 will be remembered as the Year of Gigabyte! Congratulations ladies, a great story – Gigabyte ended up winning The Adelaide Galvanising Industries Outback Cups Championship for 2015 by two points from noted outback cups performer Al Chicago. This series comprises the Hawker; Quorn; Port Augusta; Whyalla and Roxby Downs Cups however this year the Quorn meeting was abandoned due to the state of the track