Tange Lands Long Overdue Winner

Newcastle Herald

Monday February 4, 2008

JOHN GILMOUR RACING

VETERAN trainer Ron Tange landed his first winner at Broadmeadow in more than a decade when San Tango stormed to victory in race five over 1200 metres.

San Tango, one of only two horses Tange has in work, beat Exaltation by three-quarters of a length.

Classic Ann was a similar distance back third.

The 84-year-old Tange, who is now confined to a walking frame because he suffers from breathing difficulties as a legacy from lung problems, trains San Tango for his 82-year-old wife Mary and their two sons Wayne and Carl.

"Our last winner at Broadmeadow was Gazalie, and that must have been easy 10 years ago," Mary said.

The Tanges have raced many horses with success over more than half a century in racing including Navaho Brave, which won a Tramway Handicap at Randwick in the 1970s.

"I always knew San Tango had ability, but I was worried when she was eased out of the race at her previous start after her jockey feared that she may have broken down," Mary said.

"She has trialled since and she did win well today."

Prince Covet showed he had inherited some ability from his older brother, Sir Covet, when he came from a wide barrier and did plenty of work before downing Subtle Cove by 21/4 lengths in race four (1200m).

Sir Covet, which is also trained on the track by Alan Scorse, has won six races including three in the city.

He finished second in the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton last July.

"Prince Covet is still a baby, but he has always shown plenty of promise and now he is starting to put it together," Scorse said.

He added that there were no specific plans for the gelding.

"With racing now getting back to normal following EI, most races are attracting big nominations, so it is a case of sticking him in everywhere and hoping he gets a run," Scorse said.

Prince Covet provided his breeders and owners, Peter Carroll and Gerry McKeown, with only their second Broadmeadow winner.

The two owners operate Kentucky Thoroughbreds. Their previous success at the track was with Viscount Warrior, the winner of five races from 14 starts but which failed to return to racing following an operation to remove bone chips from his legs.

"We have only bred the three horses and while they are all winners, Sir Covet is the only one which is yet to win here on his home track," Carroll said.

Gosford trainer Kylie Gavenlock said she was still trying to work out promising mare Heartening after the four-year-old overcame a wide draw to score a strong win in race seven (1300m).

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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