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Trainers In Form At Trackside Tasting Australia’s horses have celebrated their birthday, it’s the first race of the new season and David Hayes and Lee Freedman are suited up trackside at Caulfield. There’s a bit of celebrating in the fresh air on this 8 degree Melbourne day – Hayes has just won the gong for most winners at Caulfield and Freedman at Sandown in 2006-2007. Grinning jockey Craig Williams has won the prize for the most winning rides at both, and his smile is disappearing over his forehead. But in between their owner commitments and jockey bum-taps these heroes of the track are happy to wander up to the Member’s Bar to assess a line up of thoroughbreds from a different stable. It’s a big risk. Bringing together two of Australia’s THREE SAMUEL SMITH & SON SPECTATOR SPRING most famous racehorse trainers, shoving a glass of wine under their nose and asking them what they think of Samuel Smith & Son’s new releases is bound to provoke brutally honest answers. “Shit that smells like petrol,” Freedman exclaimed about one of the wines. “Great long legs,” says Hayes, appreciating the glass rather than the contents. It’s all good-natured fun and at the centre is Samuel Smith & Son’s Victorian Key Account Manager Rhonda Sexton. The stalwart of 23 years company service (and a 2002 Signature signatory) Rhonda has just presented the trophy to the winner of the 1000 metre Yalumba Masters and used her inimitable charm to lure the two famous men of the track to this tasting. It’s a unique idea – instead of the traditional media or trade tasting Rhonda has gone outside the square by asking hero sportsmen with an interest in wine to give their objective opinion about the new releases. Not only does it give a truthful consumer perspective, Rhonda figures it won’t do these brands any harm rolling around the palates of some of Australia’s most influential opinion makers. First wine up is a 2007 Pewsey Vale Riesling. Both trainers are confused by the intense citrus nose, and punt on Sauvignon Blanc. But once it lands on the palate they know they are in unmistakable Eden Valley Riesling country. Hayes gets ten points for calling lemon as a descriptor.
“I don’t drink white wine,” Freedman says, “ Besides, Hayes is a pisshead.” It’s no surprise then that he doesn’t go for the Vasse Felix 2006 Classic Dry White but Hayes is more considered. “Quite good tropical fruit and I’m getting a bit of Semillon flavour,” he says, more than chuffed that he’s picked the variety. It’s head to head now and both trainers pick up the loaded apricot in the 2005 Yalumba Viognier at the same time. Then they each score ten points when they bet successfully on cool climate Eden Valley and the race is on. Hayes shows his regional advantage over Freedman when he picks the award winning Peter Lehmann 2001 Semillon. “Great wine, really enjoyable,” he says swirling and spitting while Freedman looks confused by the complexity. However, the Victorian trainer comes into the straight a nose ahead when we turn to the reds and he picks the Pirie South 2005 Pinot Noir first up. “I’ve just been to London and knocked over some very good Burgundies so I’ve really got a taste for Pinot at the moment,” Freedman says. The next wine is a French ring-in, the Perrin Reserve 2004 Cotes du Rhone and Hayes also shows his international connections picking up the berry-laden Grenache nose along with the peppery Shiraz. “Great wine, very French,” he exclaims and his points score jumps a notch. “That’s my favourite.” “I’d really enjoy that with a nice Schulz porterhouse or a poussin at Vintners in the Barossa. As long as Hill Smith is there and he pays.” Then Freedman picks his wine of the tasting, the Jim Barry Cover Drive 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. “That’s a fantastic wine, just what I like,” he says. “Good, dark, full bodied Coonawarra Cabernet. “I’d enjoy that with a rack of lamb off the pastures near us on the Mornington Peninsula. “While I was overseas I also tried some fantastic Bordeauxs. The trouble is drinking $1000 a bottle Cheval Blanc ruins your palate for anything else.” Finally there is a Western Australian Forest Hill 2004 Shiraz from Mount Barker. Hayes likes the peppery Shiraz profile and enjoys the bottle age while Freedman appreciates the cool climate texture and elegance. They both get ten points for picking Australia’s most famous variety but miss the WA connection. The tasting is over and Lee has to rush off to a family commitment. But first an insight into the wine drinking habits of horse trainers. “I open a bottle a couple of nights a week,” he says. “My wife’s a Champagne drinker but I like red, particularly Pinots and Coonawarra Cabernet. I’ve got a lot of self control and I rise early so I stick to one bottle – but if we have visitors and the company is boring I’ll have a second one and go to sleep!” One would have thought David’s Barossa upbringing at Lindsay Park would have had red coursing through his veins from infancy. SPRING RACING FEATURE “Actually I was a scotch and coke drinker until I was 25 years old,” he grins. “One day I went to see Robert Hill Smith and said: ‘Everyone else is drinking red wine, you’d better show me how to taste it properly. “ “Hill Smith told me to sniff, swirl it around the glass, take a sip, roll it around your mouth and swallow.” “He said the most important thing then is to look very wise and considered and say, “that wine really suits my palate.” “Everyone will at least think you know what you are doing.” Hayes and Freedman have crossed the finish line head to head and only the sniff of a Shiraz glass separates them on points – but the real winners in this tasting are the wines which have gained a new audience at Australia’s most famous race track.
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