Our Owner of the Month for June is Tina Fox for River’s Lane.
As some of you would know River’s Lane, also part owned by former SAROA president Paul Kristoris, has just turned 10 and as such is one of the oldest horses racing on the flat in South Australia.
Recently having his 101st start Rivers won at Morphettville Parks over 2400 metres – since then he has raced twice more for fourth placings at both Morphettville and Flemington. River’s Lane has won 14 times, with 16 seconds and 11 thirds and earnings of $678,890.
He is by this year’s Australasian Leading Sire for prizemoney earned in the late, great Street Cry. He is out of an unraced Made of Gold mare Star Maid, who is owned by some of River’s Lane’s owners. Star Maid has also mothered To Cry For (also by Street Cry) who has won over $100,000 and has proved to be nearly as hardy as Rivers having started 98 times. Star Maid is a full sister to three times stake winner Cosmic Strike who won the Gilgai Stakes and over $340,000 in the early 2000’s.
During his long career Rivers has been the model of consistency winning a least one race every season. His first win was over 1050 metres at Morphettville as a two year old way back in January 2009. Then followed a bit of a drought (albeit with places in Group Company) until February 2010 when he saluted first up over an unsuitable 1200 metres, again at Morphettville.
Roughly a year later Rivers really hit his straps winning three metro races in the space of four starts culminating in winning the listed Birthday Cup. Good performances kept on coming with placings and wins until he won his second listed race in the C.S. Hayes Memorial Cup in March 2014. Even last season as a nine year old, this iron horse was able to win 2 races and a stack of cheques on metro tracks both here and in Victoria. It is quite amazing that since his first win way back in 2009 he has won at least once in every calendar year.
I guess the question remains as to how long he can keep racing but I am sure his connections will only pull the pin on his career when Rivers tells them to.
So to part owner Tina Fox, Tina has been a strapper with the Balfour stables for many years and had strapped River’s Lane since he was a baby. After injuries sustained in a serious car accident meant that Tina could no longer work as a strapper, she took up a share in her favourite horse and has been along for the ride with him for his more recent successes.
Who knows whether Rivers can win again but I am sure all associated with him will feel privileged to have been around him. I thought it might be interesting to list the jockeys who have tasted success on the almost black gelding.
The story starts with Amy Hermann; followed by Michelle Payne; Jason Holder; Todd Pannell (who netted 4 wins on Rivers); Paul Gatt; Joe Bowditch (with 3 wins); Scott Westover; Damien Oliver; and Dylan Caboche.