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By Doug Ryan

Four generations of Laurieton’s Tate family, headed by 84-year-old great-great grandmother Jan Tate, celebrated the win of Glitra at Taree races on Monday. Her daughter, Jenny Gray and her grand-daughter Maddi Beauchamp were part of a syndicate of all women owners who have a share in the four-year-old gelding.

The 'boss', Jan’s husband Kelly, delighted in the win at home along with Port Macquarie trainer John Sprague who was injured in a track mishap on Saturday. She reckons Kelly, home bound due to old age symptoms, is the mastermind plotting the success of Glitra, one of many gallopers raced with success by the family over several decades.

But it is up to the girls in the family to carry on the tradition at the track these days. Glitra ($15.10 NSW TAB) was responsible for a big effort in giving up to 10.5kg away to rivals, spearing to the front from 12 barrier at the start and then scoring by 2.75 lengths in the M J R Accountants Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1412m at Taree Wingham Race Club’s meeting on a soft track.

Jan said the win with Coffs Harbour jockey Raymond Spokes in the saddle would lift the spirits of Kelly and Sprague. It was the gelding’s second win in six or seven starts since they purchased him from the Newcastle stable of Kris Lees for $18,000.

Since Kelly has been house-bound, the women members of the family have formed syndicates and raced many winners in the past five years. Beauchamp has just finished her exams at university to be a teacher and has secured part-time work at Saint Agnes at Port.

“She has missed a few days at uni in coming to the races,” said Jan with a smile. She admitted to not being a “smart punter” in taking $8 about Glitra early before it nearly doubled its winning price.

All members of the family love horses and they pool their resources to race them as part of enjoying the family social experience. Glitra may now aim for a bigger win at Grafton.

Lees would be happy for the syndicate as he continues to win races all over the country, not being out of the spotlight in notching three wins from three starters at Taree. “I think he has done that once before,” said stable rep Cheree Marshman.

Overseas apprentice jockey Louise Day enjoyed her first winning double in being on What A Sister ($2.10) in the Eddies Fresh Chickens Fillies & Mares Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1257m and on Biscuit Time ($2.40) in the Hydra Hose Class 2 Handicap over 1007m. Jockey Andrew Gibbons was on Lees’s other winner Bold Chance ($2.50) in the Cleavers Tyres Entires & Geldings Maiden Plate over 1257m.

Port trainer Neil Godbolt was all smiles in only having three-year-old filly Jawdaa ($3.70) for a couple of weeks and grabbing a win with her in the Stacks Law Firm Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate over 1257m. The filly, ridden by Robert Agnew, led all the way to score by a half-head for Emirates Park at only her fifth overall start.

Four-year-old mare Superlight ($1.80), ridden by Matthew Paget, led all the way to give Newcastle trainer Andrew MacDonald his first win at the track in the Elders Real Estate Maiden Handicap over 1007m. The horse has been a model of consistency as has been 5yo Taree gelding Blinkin Awesome ($4.60), trained by Ross Stitt and ridden by apprentice Mikayla Weir, which scored a last stride win in the Taree Taxis Entires & Geldings Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1257m.

Stitt had some unlucky placings during the meeting and was relieved to finally have a win. Jockey Rachael Murray registered her 105th season win on four-year-old mare Bold Chloe ($7.20), trained at Coffs Harbour by Warren Gavenloch in the C J Hogan & Co Country Class 1 Handicap over 1614m.

View the full results with race replays for Taree here