When industry stalwart, Andrew Rowe, badly injured his back a few weeks ago, the Goulburn-local couldn’t help but feel his hard work slipping away.
The longtime trainer/owner and former lure driver at Wentworth Park had finally got his newest litter by Wow out of proven brood bitch Wayang Angel ready to race.
But due to the nature of his injury, and with the heats of the Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden on the horizon, ‘Rowey’ made the difficult, but necessary decision to move his dogs to other kennels to keep his dream of winning a maiden Group race alive.
“I picked up a 20kg drum of detergent and I went down again like a bag of you know what…I felt something in my back pop straight out,” a dejected Rowe said during the week.
Andrew Rowe alongside 22-time winner Taw General
“I spent 10 days and nights crawling around the house, it was terrible. I was on painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, but I was still in agony. Doctors told me I slipped a disc at the base of my spine which was pushing on my sciatic nerve.”
“It felt like someone had a cattle prod on my backside and didn’t let go of the trigger. I’ve had a few steroid injections since and am slowly on the mend, but it was heartbreaking because me and my brother Adrian had done so much hard work getting these dogs ready to race.”
The dogs in question, Taw Galaxy and Taw Major, instead heading to the Magic Maiden series under the guidance of caretaker trainers, Ruth and Danielle Matic.
The former running second in his heat to final favourite Unleash Georgia in 30.34, while Taw Major took out his preliminary in 30.00.
Their reward – a spot in this Saturday night’s $25,000 final at Wentworth Park.
“I would have loved nothing more than to be there walking them out in the heats, but it just wasn’t possible with the amount of pain I’m in,” Rowe added.
“I’m trying to stay positive, but everyone knows how much hard work goes into getting a litter to the track. The breeding process, educating and trialling them, giving them the best chance at success…it’s so much effort.”
“The good part is though; I’ve always had great people around me who are there if I need them. The Matics reared this litter of pups so they offered to help me out. They’ve always had my back in a way, and we’ve been friends for a long time. They’ve been very good to me.”
Danielle Matic with Taw Major
“Chris O’Brien is a great fella and he took another bitch until I’m back on my feet properly. My partner Debbie and my brother have been an unbelievable help as well, and Geoff Rinehart, a mate for 40 years, is always around too. That’s what friends are for right.”
“Hopefully one of them can win Saturday night, that’d be just awesome for all involved. I’ve got a good mate named Shane Brown who is dying of cancer at the moment and I promised him I’d win a group race before he left this world. If we could pull this off, it’d just be the best.”
The 56-year-old Rowe, who is determined to be trackside on Saturday, leaning towards Taw Galaxy as the best of his two hopefuls.
“The first time we ever let him go behind the drag lure, he went like a machine and he’s always been a few lengths ahead of his littermates,” Rowe added.
“He’s just a really switched on dog and if he can get out of Box 2 well, he’ll go straight and can break 30 with the right run.”
“Taw Major is a bit more laidback. He’s got a different personality and is still a very good chaser, but he’s got a calmer attitude and is just a beautiful dog.”
“Peter Lagogiane’s dog [Unleash Georgia] well and truly deserves to be favourite though. If she goes 5.37 to the mark again, that’s flying and she’ll be hard to catch.”
The Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden final, worth $25,000 to the winner, will be contested at Wentworth Park on Saturday, April 12.
