Sometimes it's a long time between drinks as has been the case for Outlaw Man. However, there have been a number of reasons as to why its taken him a while to find his way back into the winners circle.
"There was just something not right with him" said Donnelly. "We completed extensive veterinary examinations including scintigraphy which showed a few niggly problems that we're now on top of".
The rehabilitation process and time that Outlaw Man needed meant he spent more time in the paddock than he did in work.
Given he'd been off the scene for so long he had a couple of quiet workouts before stepping back onto the racetrack. After a handful of starts at Cambridge and one on the grass at Hawera which proved fruitless, Donnelly was beginning to wonder if he'd recapture his 3 year old form.
Maybe a change of scenery would work the oracle so there was nothing to lose when he boarded the truck to Alexandra Park six weeks ago. Since then, he's had four or five starts at the Park and looked a different horse. "When you look at his record all 4 wins and 3 placings have been the right handed way of going. Even at home his work is better when you spin him around Auckland way so that's where we'll race him".
"In fairness we've been lucky to get him through the last few starts. Just when we thought all his problems were behind him he developed an issue with a foot which required corrective shoeing. So a big thanks must go out to expert farrier Kim Hughes who did a super job to get him back out on the track".
"I'm really rapt for his owners Kevin and Dianne Madgwick who have 3 horses in work with me. It's been a long haul with this bloke and they've never once complained. Unfortunately they weren't on course to join in the victory celebrations however I'm sure a few beverages were consumed at home".
