As a boy, Henry Dwyer spent many years attending Warrnambool’s May Racing Carnival with his late father Michael.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While Michael experienced the highs of winning the Warrnambool Cup shortly before his death as a part-owner of Tinamou in 2011, Henry’s carnival experience was limited to spectating.
But yesterday that all changed for the 31-year-old trainer, who produced his first winner at the carnival after serving a long apprenticeship under master trainer Robert Smerdon.
Dwyer said he was delighted his three-year-old gelding Cent Of A Tiger stormed to a 4¼-length win in the 1400m maiden plate.
“I’m rapt,” the Caulfield-based trainer said.
“I’ve been coming down here for many years with the old man and it’s the first year I’ve had a decent team of horses. It’s good to get one.”
Dwyer said he had a high opinion of Cent Of A Tiger but the galloper had battled niggling injuries, restricting him to just two starts nine months apart before yesterday.
“I was confident he would handle the wet. I’ve been waiting for winter and Warrnambool specifically,” he said.
Dwyer said he was pleased his plan to target Cent Of A Tiger at a race on a soft track at Warrnambool had paid dividends.
Jockey Michelle Payne and Cent Of A Tiger ($4) swept to the front rounding the turn and sprinted clear about 250m out, surging away to win from the Darren Weir-trained Tales Of Treasure ($26), while the $101 long shot, the Paul Graesser-trained Glen Appin, was third.
