At a time of disaster it takes a brave or a wise man to do nothing.
When Jaguar Macie was eliminated from last October’s Oaks semi finals with a broken hock, joint owner and trainer Graham Rankin was understandably devastated. But he had a plan!
He took a trip to Kildare to seek veterinary care from the hugely respected Irish vet, Denis Beary. Instead of sedating and operating on the bitch, Beary advised – ‘do nothing’. Well almost nothing!
On Tuesday night the 2021 Monmore and Northern Puppy Derby winner returned to her favourite track. She had previously won seven of her nine Newcastle races with a best of 28.28.
Just 10 days after finishing runner-up in Monmore’s Winter Derby, and in just her fourth race since her convalescence, Macie beat a decent class field in 28.45 (-10).
For Graham, the run was vindication of Denis Beary’s prognosis (failing to mention his faith and patience for seeing it through).
He said: “I was convinced she was finished. It was a proper fracture. But Denis examined her and said that all the bones were in the right positions and we could do more harm than good by operating on her. I brought her home and she pretty much spent twelve weeks on her bed.
“We brought her back slowly and I could gradually see her improving. I gave her a couple of gallops and I knew we had a chance when she did 12.50 for the 210m at Monmore, I think the best time around there is 12.45.”
Macie will be back at Newcastle next Tuesday for the heats of the ARC Northern Flat. She missed out on a place in last’s year’s final by a short head. But her trainer is convinced that there is more to come.
He said: “Unfortunately the Winter Derby came a bit too soon for her. I’ve always known it would take seven or eight races for her to get back to her best form and she has been coming off the track quite tired. When she was at her best, she was bouncing the next day. It has been taking two or three days for her to recover, but this morning was the best yet.
“If all goes to plan at Newcastle, I’ll look for another couple of races to keep her going and then be heading to Romford, I’m convince she will stay the 575m and the track should suit her down to the ground.”
Even before Macie’s next race though, Graham is hoping for some new arrivals with litter sister Jaguar Millie (Droopys Jet-Droopys Breeze) due to produce a litter to Broadstrand Bono at the weekend.
He said: “I always thought Millie was a better bitch than Macie. When they were schooling there was four or five lengths between them. It didn’t really work out for her but she did win a six bend open. The one thing she always had was a great attitude.
“The line is breeding on really well. Tibet (Droopys Scolari-Droopys Breeze) is turning out a really great brood bitch and is the mother of Making Noise.”
