Darby’s breakthrough win last Sunday was due reward for her loyal syndicate members. For most of them, it’s been an almost 18-month wait for success after first connecting with the now 4yo mare when she was an early 3yo looking very much ready to race. Then things didn’t go to plan.
Minor setbacks delayed Darby’s debut until spring 2023, and then she didn’t fire as expected in her first campaign. As a result the decision was made to give her a nice long spell on the hills. A chance for her to just ‘be a horse’ for a while and strengthen up with time.
Most, but not all members of the original Ripple Creek Darby Syndicate, positive in their outlooks for this well-bred mare and enjoying their wider association with the stable, stayed with Darby. Now they can reflect on a very nice maiden win and look ahead about what’s to come.
“It was very exciting for wee Darby to get a well-deserved win,” enthused syndicate member Sarah Rogers, “Great to see the hard work and dedication paying off. We love being in this ownership group.” Sarah was in fact drawn to taking a share as she had handled Darby in her Yearling Sales preparation when working in the industry.
In the meantime, the Alps Racing Syndicate, a small family group in Ashburton, became involved with the stable by purchasing shares in two of our 2024 yearlings. Wanting a ready-to-race interest while their new investments matured and with Darby again trialling well, they jumped at the opportunity to fill the small ownership gap that existed.
So then there were two syndicates racing the horse – 19 people in total, under lease from owner and trainer Trent Yesberg. Two syndicates with contrasting back stories regarding the mare. All equally deserving and rewarded, the result a big thrill for an enthusiastic bunch of people who have taken Darby to their hearts.
For Ripple Creek syndicate manager Brian Cross every syndicate win is a particularly satisfying outcome. “Unlike some stables, we can’t rely on big owners to bankroll the horses Trent and his team train,” says Brian. “So we’ve made syndication a big part of the Ripple Creek ownership strategy.”
Everyone running syndicates will know they have advantages and disadvantages to a racing business: low cost of entry to fill gaps in ownership and more clients on the books, offset by a lot more paperwork that needs to be managed. “Sure, it takes just as long to welcome a new owner at 5% as one at 95%, and then there’s what’s needed to put multiple owners together in a horse and keep them together. But there are real advantages looking beyond that”.
At Ripple Creek, Brian could point to numerous stable connections who have not taken long to go from one small syndicate share to multiple ownerships as new opportunities arise. “Not only can a good syndicate experience lead to further involvement, but more people involved means more friends and family coming along for the ride, and more ownership resulting from working the networks.” That has to be good for harness racing.
From a business perspective, it just means staying focussed on customer service. “We need to be nimble so we can respond to changes that arise, hand in hand with the critical need to be proactive identifying ways of doing things better.”
For Trent Darby’s win also brought great satisfaction. “I’ve always had faith in the mare’s ability,” he says. “She just needed time to grow into the racing role.” There was some relief in the stable as well after bit of a win drought. “A few have been knocking on the door for a while”. For Darby a little change of luck in the running was all she needed.
Darby’s first win was only a Sunday maiden, but what a win it was as she showed a real will to get there first. Weaving through the field from the back, Darby recorded quite stunning sectionals for the last 600, 400 and 200 metres to score convincingly under Ricky May’s urging.
All success to each and every one of the mare’s big group of followers as they look forward to her future progress with much anticipation.
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