Popular Warrnambool hobby trainer Maureen Harry was excited by the win of Numerate in a 1400-metre benchmark 58 at Coleraine last Sunday.
With apprentice jockey Fred Kersley in the saddle, Numerate ($3.30) hung on to beat He’s The Bomb by half a length with Sir Chatalot third. 
The seven-year-old had put the writing on the wall with a fourth placing in benchmark 64 grade at Warrnambool on August 8, at his first start for Harry.
After the race Harry thanked Numerate’s previous trainer, Ken Elford, who’d recommended Numerate as a horse likely to be suited by Harry’s training style.
“I thought he’d be hard to beat after he ran so well at Warrnambool,” Harry said. 
“He’s a low-rated horse so we’ll just take him along slowly.”
Numerate has won two of his 25 starts.
Culture shock
Jackie Henderson had forgotten how cold it gets in her old home town during the winter months.
Henderson, who has been training horses in outback Western Australia for the past six years, returned to Warrnambool in March for an operation after injuring a ligament in her left knee.
“I’ve found the last week to be very cold,” she said. 
“The weather here is a lot different to places like Broome, Port Hedland and Marble Bar at this time of the year. 
“I forgot how cold it can really get but it’s great to be back home among my family and friends. 
“I was living out of a suitcase training my horses and going to outback race meetings. I met some amazing characters. It was an amazing experience but I thought it was best to come home and settle down a bit after I injured my knee.”
Henderson trained numerous winners on the outback racing circuit including Boys Getaround Him in the 2017 Roebourne Cup.
She is now working for Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell.
“I’m really enjoying working for Aaron,” she said. 
While Henderson returned in March, it wasn’t until June that she had the knee op.
“It’s been a slow recovery but all’s good now, though I’m not allowed to ride trackwork for another six months. 
“I’ve had my trainer’s permit transferred from WA to Victoria. My aim is to have a couple of horses in work and continue working for Aaron.”
Henderson worked for the Symon Wilde and Ciaron Maher stables before she moved to Western Australia.
Ablaze is a beauty
Coleraine maiden hurdle winner Ablaze is set to back up at the big all-jumps day at Sportsbet-Ballarat on Sunday.
Having his first jumps start for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Ablaze ($3.80) defeated Diamond Star Halo by 15 lengths with Jingles a further seven lengths back in third place.
“I was very impressed,” Maher said. “I understand Ballarat will be a big jump in class but I think he’s an above-average jumper. 
“We’ve done a lot of schooling with him over the jumps at our Ballarat stable. The long-term aim is to have him ready for next year’s Warrnambool carnival.”
Ablaze had won six races on the flat in New Zealand before joining the Maher-Eustace stable in late May.