Vale Cyril Fiechtner
We are dragging the chain badly in reporting the passing of Cyril Fiechtner, a very successful breeder, owner and trainer - driver who passed late in August.
Below are bits and pieces gathered from here and there, bits of a generous family life, well lived.
Cyril Fiechtner’s funeral was held late last month in Toowoomba, with the pacing lover buried with his racing colours – a red jacket with blue cross sashes, yellow sleeves and cap.
Fiechtner’s son, Peter, who would often help out his father around the stables, detailed how much of Cyril’s life was influenced by harness racing – spending time as a trainer, driver and breeder.
“He was certainly dedicated to it, it took precedence over everything else,” Peter said this week.
“He never took a holiday in his life while he was involved, he went on two once he was retired from racing and he went to Hong Kong and Longreach – which he really enjoyed. “Horses were numbers one, two and three in his life.”
Despite Cyril’s constant suggestions, Peter opted to not follow his father into the racing industry on a full-time basis.
Cyril grew up in Back Plains, near Toowoomba, on a farm where he learned to ride from a young age, before eventually relocating to Cowra in NSW where he would race his team of horses for some time.
In the late 1990s, Cyril made the move back to Queensland, this time landing in Rockhampton – where he would remain for around five years – then heading south to Rosewood, racing his stable at Albion Park and Redcliffe with success. Most of his horses had the word “Fleetwood” in the name.
His last starter: Fleetwood Supernova (4/06/2003 Rockhampton). His last winner: Fleetwood Supernova (7/05/2003 Mackay). The last horses Cyril bred that raced were Fleetwood Karlee and Unknown Road, both last raced in 2009.
Unfortunately, complete records of his training and driving history may be unavailable due to his involvement pre the Harvey national system. (computerised recording began in 1982). Take notice of the strike rates as a trainer and driver. Training record as in the system: 174 starts, 64 wins, 41 placings. Driving record as in the system: 111 starts, 46 wins, 27 placings. Always “on the money”, very astute trainer and driver.
Prolific winner: Fleetwood Fireball, a really tough horse (177 starts, 66 wins, 45 placings, $108,000) won races at Mackay, Rockhampton, Albion Park, Toowoomba, Redcliffe and a single NSW win at Cowra.
Other winners: Fleetwood Adam, Fleetwood Mandy (dam of dual Miracle Mile winner Be Good Johnny), Fleetwood Imalady and Fleetwood Snip.
Bred Fleetwood Mandy, dam of Be Good Johnny. Be Good Johnny is listed as bred by Peter Fiechtner.
“He was a man of honesty and integrity, he never signed contracts,” Peter said. “If you shook his hand, that was your contract and he always honoured his word.
“That was something I admired about him.
“His word was his bond; he would guarantee he would always fulfil his agreement.”
Drivers’ totem pole
To the totem pole for drivers this week, where Pete McMullen has retaken the premier position, heading home the leading challenger, Nathan Dawson six wins to four. Several drivers managed to score on two occasions, among these David McKenzie, who handles many of the Ben Battle trained runners.
For the same numbers, and special mention, is Trent Dawson who is making a great fist of what was once the backbone of harness racing, the trainer/driver package.
TD currently boasts a very healthy strike rate at both disciplines, and, believe me, it’s not going to change. There is only one way for this bloke, and that is up!
On the trainers pole, Chantal Turpin led in four winners, ahead of Melissa Gillies and Ben Rattle on two apiece.
The results week now runs Monday to Sunday and there will be stability and reliability in reporting. Ipswich factor 21/47.
Resultsville
Albion Park 14/09..
Itz Cherokee Jack (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).. Uncle Shank (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).. Le Tissier (Narissa McMullen).. Office Bad Boy (Trent Dawson).. Its Mr Clooney (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).. Dream To Share (Brittany Graham for Darrell Graham)..
Redcliffe 15/09..
Glenledi Boy (Paul Diebert for Melissa Gillies).. Brilliant Art (David McKenzie for Ben Battle).. Abercrombie Tab (Dan Russell).. Woodlands Rose (Paul Diebert for Melissa Gillies)..
Redcliffe 16/09..
Magical Maya (Trent Dawson).. Forgive Me (Pete McMullen for Peter Greig).. Looks Just Right (Nathan Dawson for John McMullen).. Tulhurst Lover (David McKenzie for Ben Battle)The Hummer (Alan Donohoe for Peter Donohoe).. Cobbity Castle (Nathan Dawson for Chris Frisby)..
Albion Park 17/09..
Bourbonontherocks (Nathan Dawson for Tayla Gillespie).. Sugarinspice (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).. Young Conqueror (Nathan Dawson for Donny Smith)..
Albion Park 18/09..
Underworked (Lachie Manzelmann for Ron Sallis).. Will The Wizard (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin)..
Rosewood hobby trainer
- from the keyboard of Jordan Gerrans:
Rosewood hobby trainer James Lewin is not worried to admit he had a tear in his eye on Sunday afternoon at Marburg.
With just one pacer in his stable, the small-time trainer has spent time in retirement in recent years away from the harness game.
The horseman has regained the passion over the last 12 months to train once again and on Sunday at his home track – Lewin broke a 1,693-day drought.
Veteran pacer Circle Line had threatened to claim another victory on a number of occasions this year and under the guidance of driver Matt Elkins – the 10-year-old gave Lewin and his family a thrill they will not forget any time soon.
“It has been a long time,” Lewin said with a laugh. In the days after the breakthrough victory, Lewin says the satisfaction that the win brings following all the hard work that is put in behind the scenes is what stands out the most.
“It was magic – a massive thrill to do it at Marburg because I love the track and the people there,” he said.
“Matty Elkins, who has driven the horse to a number of wins with the old trainer, said to me that he was as thrilled as me – he told me it was as good as it gets to drive a winner for me after a long time.
“I had a tear in my eye, do not worry about that, it was fantastic.”
Prize money needs to stay in Qld
Alchin, who had a big Winter in Queensland – training almost 30 winners - praised the Springboard Series as a concept, providing young trotters with more opportunities for the third year, branding it a great series.
The winner of the three-year-old edition, Marburg trainer Denis Smith agreed with Alchin, declaring anything that promotes trotters was excellent in his books.
The short piece above shows how one person can quantify benefits from two angles. While supporting any initiative that promotes the trotter, this writer bemoans the annual cross border invasion which inevitably removes a huge slab of money from the Queensland distribution.
We are long past the beneficial effects of the Turnbull years, when Queensland trainers were forced to lift their game or go broke.
We now need more day to day prize money as incentive for owners to buy or breed better stock.
We won’t get it by giving a heap away a couple of times a year.
What we need now is a betting product that actually has punter appeal to fund that higher prize money level!