No Stopping This Express

The Sunday Age

Sunday December 7, 2008

By PATRICK BARTLEY

TRAINER Steve McKinnon knew in the closing stages of yesterday's Victoria Cup at Caulfield that it would be a nailbiting finish - which would suit his favourite horse, Orbit Express.

McKinnon waited patiently for Orbit Express' number to go into the frame and, seconds later, was explaining his remarkable affinity with the five-year-old.

"He's the nicest, kindest horse that I've ever trained," he said.

"He gives everything and he showed today when he was left a bit flat-footed in the early part of the straight he was still determined to win.

"He really attacks the line. He's a pleasure to train and he's one of those horses that when we start in the morning he's looking over the door of his box wanting to get on with it and looking at us as if we've been late to work."

McKinnon said Orbit Express, who is by Dangerous from Look For Venus, was the last "roll of the dice" for his dam, who had a poor breeding record.

"All the foals had been useless and they thought 'we'll give the mare one more chance' and along came Orbit Express, who has now nearly won a quarter of a million dollars in prizemoney," he said.

McKinnon will back up Orbit Express over 1400metres at Flemington on Saturday and has picked out a number of suitable events in the new year.

Orbit Express, who drifted from $2.70 to $3.10, scored by a head from Danzylum ($6.50), with Zyzxx ($9.50) a long head away third.

The result also provided a welcome return to form for jockey Greg Childs, who rode Orbit Express perfectly.

"I think I've won five races on him," Childs said. "He's a joy to ride and he really dug deep today. Fourteen hundred metres at this stage seems to be his ideal journey."

McKinnon said that the connections of Orbit Express, who also bred the horse, had been loyal supporters of Childs for a number of years.

"One day we had Apple Lode in a race at Moonee Valley and we didn't have a rider and grabbed Greg at the last minute. She won and they've always been thankful for the ride and have stuck with him ever since.

"And they always say to me, 'let's try Greg and see if he's available, and if he's not we can try someone else'."

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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