A new era commenced at Sale on Wednesday, with Harris Walker’s name joining Pat Carey’s in the formbook for the first time as co-trainer.
And it was almost a dream start for the Mornington-based duo, as Cumbrian Queen ($2.70) kicked clear and nearly clinched the fourth event on the new partnership’s first day at the races.
The four-year-old mare was just run down by Donatien Alphonse ($31) in the shadows of the post, but the result will do little to dim the air of optimism around the stable.
Walker spoke before the first on Wednesday, which featured the pair’s first two runners, and said he felt more eager than nervous as he commences his training career.
“There’s excitement in the air and I think that’s shared between the whole team there at Epsom Lodge,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to it.”
Whilst the partnership has been 10 months in the works, it was a ‘sliding-doors moment’ that originally brought Walker and Carey together.
“We sort of came across each other unintentionally, a partnership was something we both were looking for at different stages of our career,” he said.
“Working with Pat’s been great – it’s been interesting, I scratch my head a lot of the time.
“But we’re getting along well and he’s a great horseman … I’m very happy with where I am and having a mentor like Pat moving forward.”
A five-time Group 1 winner as a solo trainer, Carey alluded to the move in an interview at Sandown in July, saying he was ‘happy to promote him (Walker) as the future’.
The pair’s next runner will be its first in the city, as Starlight Scope will line up in the Benchmark 84 Jennifer Lefebvre Trophy at Flemington on Saturday.
Courtesy Racing.com