TWELVE months ago Ballarat hobby trainer Glen McKechnie celebrated his first winner when Prudent Thought saluted in a maiden at Burrumbeet's New Year's Day race meeting.
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Today, McKechnie is hoping to repeat that success in the picnic atmosphere of Burrumbeet.
He has two chances - Golden Poppy in the James and Son Maiden Plate, 1000 metres, and Ski Comish in the $12,000 CUB Burrumbeet Cup, 1800m.
For the McKechnies, racing is very much a family affair.
Glen races Golden Poppy in partnership with his wife Mary, while they race Ski Comish in partnership with daughter Kylie and son Ashley.
The cup provides Ski Comish, which is still eligible for class three races, with easily his toughest assignment since being acquired by the McKechnies.
Previously trained by family friend Kelvin Smith at Geelong, Ski Comish looked to be finished as a racing proposition after bowing a tendon.
He went out in the paddock and stayed there for the best part of two years before McKechnie made some enquiries.
With Ski Comish's owners no longer interested in racing him, it was not long before the eight-year-old was at the McKechnie's.
He spent another six months off the scene before he was put in work.
That was about five months ago and the gelding has quickly come to hand.
His three starts for McKechnie have produced two thirds in a class threes at Kyneton and Werribee.
These efforts, the latest being over 1600m at Werribee on Boxing Day, put him in the cup with a real show of adding to his three career wins.
Top weight Jack's Daniel is probably the biggest worry for Ski Comish, which does get back in his races and has to be saved for a short burst to get into calculations.
Jack's Daniel has excellent credentials for this afternoon's feature race.
Trained by Daryl Brown at Dowling Forest, he ran an eye-catching second to Elephant Rock three starts ago and should find the Burrumbeet Cup run to suit.
Lord Kinsale and El Edicion are other hopes in an open race, while Victorian newcomer Receptor is the mystery starter.
Lord Kinsale won a class three on this 12 months ago and appears to be close to a win again.
*FOOTRACE: Collis Birmingham and Victoria Mitchell are keen to retain their open titles in the second Central Highland Blue Ribbon 1600-metre Classic at Burrumbeet races today .
With prizemoney and sashes now totalling over $1500 and with the addition of a veterans' category, the race should appeal to athletes of all abilities.
A sealed handicap should ensure wide interest, giving all runners a chance to share in the cash.
In the junior boys' and girls' divisions, Sam Ellis, Ashley Watson and Jesse Galbraith are in good form, while Tamara Platt and Nadine Quick might be hard to beat.
The veterans' section is sure to be keenly contested, with Frank Shevlin, Jeff Crawley and Rob Jones the pick of the Ballarat athletes.
Entry in the race is free.
