Kelly gets first winner

Bruce Stewart Journalist

Angus Finn (A Rocknroll Dance) provided Gore harness racing trainer Shayne Kelly with his first winner at Roxburgh today.

The four year old has been knocking on the door to clear maidens and handled by Nathan Williamson, the gelding got the job done today, beating Dallas Dale by two lengths.

“He’s tough and doesn’t take too much out of himself. He won’t throw it in or stop. He just keeps going and the faster and harder they go the better,” Kelly said.

Surprisingly Angus Finn was 6/6 in the betting and paid $11.00 to win.

Kelly is an area Manager for Fonterra and runs a 150 acre sheep farm as well, so doesn’t train too many horses.

“I had a horse called Under The Radar which I qualified and gave him one start. He dropped dead the day before he was to race again. It was a bit of a knee jerk reaction, but I needed a horse to replace him so I had a yarn to Macca (Brent McIntyre – Macca Lodge) and he had this horse to lease. He was a big gangly bugger but I took him home and fed him up, broke him in and I quite liked him.”

Angus Finn (File Photo - Bruce Stewart)

Shayne says Angus Finn has a strong personality.

“He used to sink the boot in and had a bucking strap on. I thought he’d grown out of it and I took it off, but he got back into his old habits. He loves his feed and you don’t go near him when he’s eating. Sometimes the sheep or cattle would come around and he’d chase them away or boot them. I made the silly mistake by dropping off his fed and walking behind him and he gave me both barrels. Nothing was broken. I just had a few cracked ribs and an interesting horseshoe print on my shoulder.”  

After today’s run Angus Finn will have ten days off.

“He might not look as though he needs a spell but he’s going to get one anyway. They’re not machines.”

As a driver Kelly reined thirty winners. One of his biggest wins came on the Roxburgh track when he drove Innocent Mac to win the 1994 Roxburgh Cup for Ascot Park trainer Murray Faul.

“I was in the Presidents room having a quick beer and saw my photo on the wall. I showed my wife (Justine) and she asked me when it was taken. I told her just a couple of years ago (laughter).”

Shayne’s father Paul trained good mare Carefree Princess which won eight races including the Southland Oaks Final and the Wyndham Cup. He also trained Lord Hillas which won six.

The only other horse Kelly has in training is Fillyourboots, an En Solitaire filly out of Sunrise Delight.

“She’s just turned two. I’ve taken her to Gore for a bowl around and she’s doing everything right. I’ll give her another set of shoes and that’ll be enough to keep me busy.”