Courage prevails for former dentist
Wednesday, 16 February 2011:
Caloundra
trainer Michael Jacobs landed his third metropolitan win, all with the
same horse, since being forced to abandon a career as a dentist when Al
Mazaya won at Eagle Farm.
Al Mazaya, one of six horses in work
with Jacobs, scored a 1-1/4-length win over Catallion in Wednesday's
www.brc.com.au Handicap (1500m).
Jacobs is living proof how courage can overcome adversity.
The 47-year-old was a dentist at Roma in southwest Queensland when he was attacked at a service station in March 2007.
The assault left him with a badly fractured eye socket and with permanent double vision.
After four operations, Jacobs's career as a dentist was over forcing him to find alternative employment.
A
friendship he had struck up with Roma trainer Craig Smith saw him
regularly attend country race meetings where he got the bug to try his
luck as a trainer.
Jacobs soon made the move to Glenview in the Sunshine Coast hinterland where he now has a small property with six stables.
"I was cleaned up by a couple of louts at the service station and they got nothing," Jacobs said.
"They fractured my eye socket and I had to give dentistry away.
"I've had a few operations but I've still got permanent double vision."
The disability hasn't stopped Jacobs from training winners since taking out his licence in September 2008.
Four-year-old
entire Al Mazaya's victory earned him another chance against Saturday
opposition and possibly a winter carnival campaign.
Al Mazaya won
the Country Cup (1400m) at Eagle Farm last August before backing up for
successive city wins three weeks later at Doomben.
The son of Dubai Destination's latest victory took his record to six wins from 25 starts.
"I'll
give him his next run in town on a Saturday and that run will decide if
we look further ahead towards the winter carnival," Jacobs said.
"He's a nice horse but he can be a bit headstrong, that's why I sometimes train him in a crossover noseband.
"He's got the ability. It's just a matter of him bringing it to the track."
Earlier,
Gold Coast filly Catalan Miss bounced back from a race ban to down
Paris Blu by a long neck in the Sky Racing Handicap (1200m).
Stewards
barred the daughter of Tale Of The Cat after she bungled the start by
six lengths when fifth to Gai's Choice at the Gold Coast on January 15.
Catalan Miss was required to pass a barrier trial test in front of stewards before being allowed to start again.
"It was a good win to come from behind and win like that with the rail out so far," trainer Gillian Heinrich said.
"We used a set of dummy spurs on her today but she still missed the kick a little.
"She's a class four horse now so I'll probably take her to town on a Saturday."
