Grand old campaigner just keeps winning

By Jonny Turner

Sagwitch added to his grand racetrack record when he ran to his 14th career win for trainer Syd Breen at Ascot Park on Wednesday.

The nine-year-old relished the sprint conditions of race 9 to score another victory in his eighth season on the track.

And the smile on Breen’s face after Sagwitch drove through along the inner to score for driver Mark Hurrell said it all.

“I’m as proud as punch, he’s been a good old mate,” Breen said.

Sagwitch has been with Breen throughout his 132-start career, and there is no doubt about who is number one among the trainer’s team.

“He will sing out to you every morning, I can see his box from the kitchen window,” Breen said.

“He is the first one to be fed each day and night, he’s just a real good old mate.”

“He gets a bit bossy, but he is pretty easy to deal with.”

For a horse that has been around as long as he has, Sagwitch isn’t slowing down.

Some minor running repairs recently helped the horse rack up the fourth win of his nine-year-old season.

“He had his joints treated last month, just because of a little bit of wear and tear.”

“So, that was his first start since then.”

“The tracks are so hard and fast these days - they get a bit of wear and tear, but he has never had an unsound day in his life.”

Though Sagwitch didn’t look to be travelling like a sure winner on the home turn, he rallied strongly under driver Hurrell’s urgings to score.

“He felt like his youthful old self; he was under a hard drive, but it is the first time in a very long time he has picked himself up and got going,” Hurrell said.

Sagwitch is raced by Breen alongside Paul Matheson and wife Nancy of Wanaka.

Matheson’s brother Shane was also in the winner’s circle at Ascot Park on Wednesday, as the trainer and part-owner of Abadabadoo.

The trotter continued her excellent recent run of form when taking out race 3.