Keith Cotchin is the first to admit that “things weren’t looking flash” when he moved his harness racing training base to Elmore from Yarrambat nine years ago.
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Horses had always been Cotchin’s life, but life was getting tough as he went through a lean winning patch.
In early 2007, Cotchin’s luck changed when he spotted an unbroken two-year-old in a paddock.
“We had no money, but I had an opportunity to go halves in the horse,’’ Cotchin said.
“He wasn’t real big, but he was a nice enough type.”
The nice enough type was Tanabi Bromac.
Now an eight-year-old, Tanami Bromac has won 24 races from 102 career starts and earned more than $465,000 in prizemoney.
The gelding won the Victoria Derby as a three-year-old and will tonight attempt to add the PETstock Bendigo Pacing Cup to its Shepparton, Horsham and Echuca cup success on the country circuit.
“He’s done the right thing for us. He’s made a big difference for our family,’’ Cotchin said.
“Right when we needed it he came along and he’s flown the flag for us ever since.
“He’s like a family pet for us... we’ll probably never get another one like him.
“He’s taken us all over Australia to race and he’s always been competitive.
“You’ve got to take the good with the bad and you’ve got to enjoy them while you can.”
Tanabi Bromac is the outsider of the field tonight after drawing outside of the front row at the Lord’s track in Junortoun.
Cotchin admits his stable star will need a lot of luck to win.
“We’ve drawn seven, so that’s going to make it tough,’’ Cotchin said.
“You’ve got to be in these races to have a chance and he’ll give his best – he always does.
“You just never know in these big races.
“It would be very nice for him to win another big race.”