As a jockey, Robinson won the 1999 Timaru Stakes aboard the hardy galloper The Red Express and on Saturday he trained Boots 'N' All to take the Listed 1400-metre event sponsored by Speight's.
It was a just reward for Boots 'N' All to win a stakes race, though Robinson
always felt it was just a matter of time before he did so.In fact, the Riccarton trainer surprised Boots 'N' All's owner-breeders, Cheryl Wilson and Bruce Sheat, with a prediction he made two years ago.
"At the (NZ) Cup meeting two years ago he got beaten a nose and I said to the owners after the race we'd win the Coupland's Mile next year," Robinson said. "They laughed at me. I said, 'No, no I'm serious' and I mapped his whole programme out for that race."
Boots 'N' All had taken his record from two wins to five wins by the time he contested last November's Gr.2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile and, despite being a 75/1 longshot, he ran the race of his life for a closing third behind the deadheaters, Son Of Maher and Shadow's Cast.
Though beaten, Robinson and Boots 'N' All's owners were thrilled with the Group Two placing and the knowledge their five-year-old son of Perfectly Ready was up to the class.
Punters, however, were surprised by Boots 'N' All's effort that day and it wasn't the first time he had been overlooked.
As a youngster he had been presented at the South Island Sale by Wilson and Sheat with a reserve of a mere $5000, but he was passed in at $2500.
He was then sent to Robinson, who broke him in and soon realised his potential.
Boots 'N' All weighed-in for his first two starts and when he returned for his second campaign he proved most consistent with four seconds from his first six outings before quitting maiden ranks at Timaru.
He then won again at Timaru in his next appearance and continued to show improvement with a few sound efforts before that defining second when Robinson made his bold prediction.
Since his Coupland's Bakeries Mile effort, Boots 'N' All has picked up seconds in both his starts leading into Saturday's race. Those placings included a last-start second to Kolonel Kev in the Listed Craigmore Timaru Cup (1600m).
Jacob Lowry took over the reins in the Listed Speight's Timaru Stakes and he gave Boots 'N' All every opportunity when keeping a close eye on the favourite, Son Of Maher.
While Son Of Maher was following the pacemaker Spider, Lowry had Boots 'N' All tracking him in third placing and soon after Son Of Maher made his move on the leader, Lowry followed suit.
Son Of Maher led into the home straight and Lowry switched Boots 'N' All off the heels of the leaders and out to challenge and it was soon evident his mount was travelling the better.
Boots 'N' All drew clear inside the final stages to win by a length from Son Of Maher with Gallant Boy running on late for third ahead of Spider.
"I thought he really deserved that today," Robinson said. "His form has been terrific. His run in the Coupland's Mile was great and he backed up with a real good second in the Timaru Cup."
Boots 'N' All has now taken his record to six wins and over $117,000 in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk
