Hardened racing people rarely show emotion, but trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Jamie Kah shared a tear after the win of Another Wil at Flemington.
The pair combined to score with Another Wil in the Group 2 The Damien Oliver (1400m) on Saturday in the colours of Colin McKenna who died suddenly last Sunday, the result of a brain tumour.
McKenna was a mentor for Maher from a young age, well before he became Australia’s largest trainer, while also beinga constant sounding board for Kah.
Another Wil is named after one of McKenna’s 12 grandchildren with the gelding owned by a large contingent of family and friends.
“That’s why he loved racing,” Maher said.
“He bred it, and there was no more passionate person.
“A great mate, a great mentor who would just love to be here today, but I’m sure he’s looking down.
“You just would not know how many people Col touched, and Jamie is a great example.
“He’ll be sadly missed, and I’m sure next Friday there’ll be a lot of people there celebrating him.”
In a one-two finish for the Maher stable, Another Wil (3.90) defeated the $2.20 favourite Jimmysstar by 1-¼ lengths with Steparty ($18) a further three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
The first half of the 1400m trip went smoothly for Kah and Another Wil until the leader The Astrologist began to weaken.
Kah had to angle Another Wil away from the fence to get around The Astrologist and then dive back in to gain clear running.
“There were a few tight gaps we had to get through, and he honestly didn’t feel like he was travelling that well on the turn,” Kah said.
“When we took the first gap, something picked us up and carried us over the line because he felt like he was probably struggling a little bit.
“His turn of foot in the last 200 metres, that was just unreal.
“This is for you, Col.
“He’ll be watching, and hopefully one day I can be doing this in a Group 1 for him.”
Kah said she spoke with McKenna’s wife Janice on Saturday morning who despite her loss was handling it better than she was.
She said Saturday’s win will mean everything to Janice, as it will for the entire Maher stable.
“I spoke to her (Janice) this morning,” Kah said.
“She’s tougher than me. She told me, ‘Don’t be a sook, you’ll be right, be tough’.
“Oh, God, what amazing people they have around Janice at the moment.
“It’d be extremely hard for her, but she’s just so tough and she’s coping so well.
“Today, I just wanted to make Col proud and thank God we got the win in the end.”