Double Return By Roughie
The Sunday Age
Sunday February 23, 2003
GEORGIE BOY'S trainer Denis McNamee had his win halfway through a six-hour drive from Mount Gambier to Caulfield yesterday - he heard on the car radio that his roughie, Georgie Boy, would earn double what was anticipated to chase home the champion Northerly in the 104th running of the St George Stakes.
With the scratching of Don Eduardo, fourth (and last) place returned $8000 rather than the $4000 that would have been fifth prize.
In his day, Georgie Boy was no slouch. He had a win over Sunline when trained by John Size in Sydney, but as a seven-year-old he was making up the small numbers . . . and setting the pace before finishing eight lengths from Northerly in last place.
``He made it genuine," McNamee said as jockey Steven Arnold unsaddled Georgie Boy. ``He's definitely out now."
The gelding was going for a spell before returning on winter's wet tracks, but Sydney owner Bob Ruttley told McNamee to enter him for the St George when the Melbourne Racing Club, with only three acceptances, called for more runners.
McNamee, who gets up at 4 am every day to mix training with selling cars, enjoyed his trip to town. ``I live on dreams, racing is dreams."
Ruttley sent Georgie Boy to him after he ran last, 46 lengths from the winner, in the Canberra Cup last October. Yesterday was his fifth run for McNamee, who said the veteran had a new lease of life.
© 2003 The Sunday Age
