One of the most experienced trainers on the Highveld, Erico Verdonese doesn’t say much but let’s his equine residents do the talking.
His Turffontein yard of just 16 horses produced a welcome Christmas Eve double, including an eye-catching victory by Pathfork’s lightly raced son Jimmy Don in the R175 000 Listed Secretariat Stakes at the Joburg South racetrack on Saturday.
Jimmy Don storms home under Gavin Lerena (Pic – JC Photos)
Talking to Erico Verdonese is something of a trip down memory lane. The veteran has learnt from the best – names like Richard Stranger, Duncan Alexander, Michael Roberts, Stanley Ferreira, Syd Laird and latterly Alec Laird, have made their mark in the history books of the turf over many decades.
And even an old-timer like former jockey Tex Lerena, was on hand to celebrate the win for his champion son Gavin on Saturday.
Old mates – Erico and Tex Lerena (Pic – JC Photos)
“Tex was an appie when I started. He’s a good friend and dyed in the wool racing man,” quips Erico as he chats to the Sporting Post after Jimmy Don impressed with a cracking first feature success on Christmas eve.
Erico is clearly old school and is proud of the fact that his has been a lifetime of service to a game he loves.
Erico Verdonese hugs Gavin Lerena after Jimmy Don’s great win (Pic – JC Photos)
And while times and economics have changed since he started in 1979 – his wife Catherine says he’d be better off rather playing golf every day – Erico loves the horses and says he is blessed to be supported by some top class owners, like the Dowling family who race Jimmy Don.
“Patience and planning are all important to getting the best out of a horse. Alex and David Dowling haven’t put me under any pressure. There have been a number of features for a nice 3yo like Jimmy Don – but as I was taught by the old-timers, we pick our battles and a horse tells us when he is ready,” adds Erico.
Bred by Willempie Englebrecht Jnr, Jimmy Don was selected by Erico at the BSA National 2yo Sale, where he was purchased for R150 000. He surpassed his purchase price on Saturday, with his stakes tally now R218 875, from his three wins and a place from his five starts.
Jimmy Don was named in honour of Erico. “Alex and David’s Dad George used to call me ‘Jimmy’, a Scottish term of endearment. What a great family, and a privilege to have trained a feature winner for them,” adds Erico, who says that Jimmy Don is the most straightforward fellow to train.
“One finds that a common characteristic in any good horse is temperament. He is just fantastic and does what he is required to do. And he is still a colt and shows no signs of coltishness,” says Erico proudly.
So where to from here for Jimmy Don?
“I don’t believe in running in the features for the sake of it. We will build his confidence and pick his fights. As I said, he has the potential to win his races.”
Giving weight to all bar one of his opponents on Saturday, Jimmy Don hit the front 200m from home and powered away to claim his maiden black type win by two lengths.
Bred by Willem Engelbrecht Jr, Jimmy Don is out of the Joshua Dancer mare Joshlin. “This is a very nice family and I am hoping he will get a mile,” says Erico.
Jimmy Don is the 14th stakes winner for Ridgemont’s Sandown Stud-based Distorted Humor stallion Pathfork, Ireland’s Champion 2YO Colt of 2010.
From the same female line as former champion South African sire Northern Guest, Pathfork’s other flagbearers this season include repeat Gr2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile winner Bingwa, high-class three-year-old Royal Victory, and Listed Racehorse Owners Association Stayers runner-up Marchingontogether.
Having won two races in the space of a fortnight, Jimmy Don has reportedly pulled up well and emptied the manger on Sunday morning.
Watch the replay here:
The first Verdonese winner was the Ascot Stud-bred Nuclear Force who won the opener at 14-1.
