Warrnambool sprinter A Good Yarn defied his age at Hamilton on Saturday, winning the Finchetts Plumbing 0-58 Handicap (1100m) the day after his 12th birthday.
With Tom Madden on board, A Good Yarn ($6) kicked off his final racing season beating Padstow Polly by eight lengths to make it nine wins from 72 starts. 
Trainer Merv McKenzie, 84, who only has three horses in work, was pleasantly surprised by the ease of the win.
“I would have been happy with just winning but to do it by eight lengths was amazing. 
“I thought on the home corner we might have been in for a fight but he just kept on running. It was a good ride by Tom. 
“I’ve got to give all the credit to Lorelle Crow, Gina McDonald and Mark Warren. They all do a lot of work helping me out with the horses now that I’m in the twilight of my career as a trainer. 
“I’m not sure where he’ll have his next start. He’s a tough horse who’s been so consistent during his career but he’s getting difficult to place now — and that hasn’t got any easier due to his age and the fact that he’s a sprinter who can only run a strong 1100 metres.”
A Good Yarn has 23 minor placings to go with his nine wins and has picked up $298,300 in prizemoney.
Joy for Jacko, Jordy
Warrnambool trainer Shane Jackson was delighted for his good mate and fellow Irish expat Jordan Hart after they combined for an all-the-way win with first-season jumper Highland Blaze in the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle at Sandown last Sunday.
Highland Blaze ($4.80) led throughout the 4200-metre contest, defeating Affluential ($4.60) by five lengths. Jockey Tom Ryan had pulled $2.50 favourite The Cunning Fox out of the race following an attack of cardiac arrhythmia.
“It’s a great result,” Jackson said. “Jordan had done a lot of the work on him so he deserved the ride. 
“He’s won four of his five jumps starts this campaign and looks to have a bright career in front of him.”
Hart said it was a huge thrill to win such a prestigious jumps race.
“I’m lost for words,” he said. “I’ve got to thank Shane. He’s shown great faith in me and it’s just a great thrill to win one of the big jumps features.”
Jackson won the Grand National Hurdle twice as a jockey before taking out his trainer’s licence. 
Ocean keeps earning
Honest Warrnambool galloper Ocean Beyond kept the prizemoney flowing in for his connections at Flemington last Saturday with a luckless fourth.
The Simon Ryan-trained eight-year-old picked up $6500 to pass the half-million mark in stakes at start 47. 
Ocean Beyond has had 18 starts in what is his first campaign for Ryan. He hasn’t won a race but has earned $115,000. 
McKenna honoured
Woolsthorpe’s Janice McKenna was named Victoria’s top small breeder at an awards ceremony in Melbourne last Saturday night. 
McKenna and her late husband Colin bred star galloper Another Wil and she remains in the ownership.
’Raine ripper
Local racing heads to Coleraine this Sunday for the $60,000 Great Western Steeplechase and three other jumps races. Live Blues music, local craft beers and a mouth-watering American-style barbecue should keep racegoers entertained between the races.
Black-booker
Riverina Power: finished off strongly to run third at $26 at Flemington last Saturday for Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig. 
Don’t be surprised if she salutes next time, but we might have missed the big odds.