TUNCURRY racehorse trainer, Terry Evans hopes that the Coffs Harbour win of three-year-old filly Par Avion on Saturday heralds the start of a better racing season after battling bushfires, floods and COVID-19.
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No sooner had he painstakingly nearly mended the ravages of the big bushfire which surrounded his Rainbow Flat property that floodwaters washed away most of the work.
The 3.5 lengths win of Par Avion ($5.50) at its fifth start over 1012m may be his last for a poor 2020-21 racing season which ends on Sunday but is looked at as a springboard for the new one.
He is looking forward to his 16 gallopers in work at Tuncurry providing him with a much needed boost in luck for the 2021-22 racing season.
Par Avion, bought for $4000 from Widden Stud, is bred to get 2000m but due to her being lightly framed and having a sway back Evans is elated to have her winning at her fifth start.
"She has always shown ability and even though she didn't go through the sale ring she should win her share of races."
The rising four-year-old has a dozen owners, many of them who have been good supporters of Evans over his many years of training.
She has always shown ability and even though she didn't go through the sale ring she should win her share of races.
- Terry Evans
"They all come to watch their horse race but due to COVID restrictions they weren't able to do so at Coffs Harbour," Evans explained.
Evans usually maintains about 16 horses in work to race but also homes mares, youngsters and foals at his property which has the highway as a border.
During the bushfires the fences and a lot of the infrastructure housing the horses was destroyed around his house which just missed being burned.
It had taken him about a year to restore structures to keep the horses safe again from wandering on to nearby busy roads when the big wet caused widespread flooding, waters ravaging the new work and leaving further untold destruction.
"Most of the new fences were washed way and floodwaters from under the freeway ruined the new work.
"At the track a kayak was used to ferry staff."
Due to the big wet, fast gallops and other work for his racehorses was virtually put ln hold.
"I am looking for a change of luck for the new season and to double the number of my starters.
"I have a lot of young horses, one from New Zealand, which should win races if given the opportunity with no more setbacks."
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