Every trainer in the world has a story about each of the horses in their stable.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A bush battler, a talented galloper with an attitude, a horse small in stature who doesn't give up, or maybe a cool and calm champion. Each horse has a history and a story which is unique.
But when it comes to the tale of Dubbo trainer Darren Hyde and his exciting filly Bedtime Stories, it’s an extremely meaningful one.
Bedtime Stories has had just one start for Hyde and heads into Friday’s Silver Goblet feature at Dubbo Turf Club as one of the favourites, but that’s only a tiny part of the tale and the journey the connections have been on.
RELATED:
She started as a foal on the property of Robert Gollan, a man well-known in racing circles, and while he raised her by hand he was struggling to find someone to break in the filly.
Hyde, who raced her mother Inside Story before she broke down, put his hand up and as soon as she arrived he knew he had a horse a class above most others.
“When she came to me she was just like an old veteran but she was only about 15 months (old),” Hyde said.
“She’s the most beautiful filly to do anything with. I trained her mum for three or four starts before she was injured and she’s a lot like her, very placid.
“To go through a few little problems with her and for Robert to have done his work and the work we’ve done with her, we’ve put in a lot of time and effort.
“To get her here has been great, we’ve been part of her life.”
Having been able to see Bedtimes Action develop so closely, Hyde has always had a high opinion of the filly.
That positivity was increased when she finished third behind the accomplished pair of Nictock and Galaxy Warrior in a trial at Mudgee.
She won that two-year-old maiden by two-and-a-half-lengths and it wasn’t a win which went unnoticed.
Hyde has received a number of calls from Sydney trainers asking what his plans are for Bedtime Stories and while he’s all too aware she’s likely to leave her Dubbo stables at some stage, the focus now is firmly on the Silver Goblet.
Given her development and form, Hyde heads into Friday’s $30,000 event in a confident mood.
“We haven’t changed anything and now we’ve got to take that next step,” Hyde said, Ryan taking the ride from barrier nine.
“But they’re all two-year-olds and a big factor for us is G. Ryan.
“She’s got good speed out and it all comes back to the G. Ryan factor, he’s the best in the business and will put her where she needs to be.”
Hyde said it would be a “great achievement” to win the Silver Goblet after all the team has been through together, but the two-year-old feature has attracted a field of 12 littered with big names.
Group 1 winning trainer Gerald Ryan, based at Rosehill, is sending Nuke out west while a number of other regional and provincial trainers will also saddle up hopes.
“It doesn’t matter where you race now, those Sydney blokes will be annoying you,” Hyde laughed.
“But there’s a Group 1 winner in Gerald Ryan and Steve Jones is another good trainer. Brett Cavanough will be there and he’s a mate of mine and they are all going to be hard to beat.
“But you’ve got to be in it to win it and we’re one from one already.”
Hyde will have two horses in action in Friday’s showcase meeting, where minimum prizemoney is raised to $30,000 in each event.
His other will be Handful Of Aces and the trainer feels she is much more suited to the 1600m distance of the Chamber of Dubbo Rhino Cup.
That is another of the feature events on Friday, with there also plenty of interest around the $40,000 Country Maiden Plate (1300m) and the Touch of Beauty Open Handicap sprint over 1000m.
The sprint has attracted a number of talented gallopers, including Clint Lundhlm’s consistent pair Joey’s Destiny and Snippety Sip, the Don and Andrew Ryan trained Somebody, Cameron Crockett’s Sharpe Hussler and Just A Bullet, from Cavanough’s stables at Scone.
Racing starts at 12.20pm with the Silver Goblet at 1.35pm.