Story by Brian Lawlor

8 September, 2010: Brisbane’s Tim McEvoy and the Gold Coast’s Brad Leaity have vastly different racing backgrounds, but they share one thing.

They are part of the group racing highly promising three-year-old Slick Image after joining the ownership group put together by Ontrack Racing.
 

While Tim is a newcomer to racing success, Brad and wife Glenn have a long history in New Zealand racing, where Brad was a successful public trainer for a number of years.

Slick Image created a huge impression when winning on debut at Doomben recently and some good judges predict a bright future for the handsome galloper from Trevor Bailey’s Gold Coast stable.

Tim McEvoy is a first time winner and his only previous involvement in racing ownership ended sadly when a More Than Ready colt he had an interest in died after becoming ill. The horse raced from Clarrie Connors’ Sydney stable.

Tim became part of the Slick Image story after attending an Ontrack Thoroughbreds open day at Dunoola Lodge, Beaudesert.

“I liked the look of the horse and we went back later and had another inspection and decided to go into the ownership along with my Dad, Michael.

“He was such a relaxed and friendly colt and that’s what attracted us to him. The fact that he was going to be trained and raced in Queensland was also important.”

Tim inherited his interest in racing through his Dad and was interested in the punting side of racing from an early age, but nothing prepared him for the thrill of Slick Image’s stunning debut win.

“It was one of the best feelings I have ever had. I had no idea of what it would be like to win a race because he’s the first horse we’ve had to the races, but it was one of the best days of my life.

“The fact that he had the race clearly won at least 200 metres from the post meant that we went crazy in the stand.”

Slick Image completed a memorable week for Tim and his partner Sophia as only a few days before the Doomben win their first child, son Mason McEvoy, was born.

“It was a pretty amazing week for all of us,” said Tim.

For Brad and Glen Leaity winning races is nothing new, but it’s still a fantastic thrill.

Brad started in racing through owning a horse trained at Auckland’s Avondale course by Roger Hinton.

“I used to help out at Roger’s stables and he encouraged and supported me in getting an owner-trainer’s licence. I then graduated to a Permit To Train licence before graduating to a Public Trainer’s licence and moving to Takanini to train.

Brad trained for about 10 years and the best horse he prepared was Young Warrior, the winner of seven races.

“I had a lot of fun and a lot of success but it was hard work with the low stakes and plenty of travelling. New Zealand racing was going through tough times and it was hard to get good horses and good owners so Glen and I moved to the Gold Coast in 1998 and bought a cabinet making business which we ran for 10 years.”

They raced a couple of horses in Sydney and Melbourne but had a break from racing for several years before being attracted to the Southern Image youngster being syndicated by Ontrack.

“We took a look at him out at Beaudesert and once we had a look were very happy to share in the ownership. We liked him from day one and it’s been great fun.

“We’re enjoying every minute of racing him and it’s much easier and much more enjoyable being an owner than a trainer.

“I know the hard work and heartaches that come with training and both Glen and I know how lucky you have to be to get a horse to the races, let alone to win first-up in town like Slick Image.

“We are enjoying every minute of it,” said Brad.

Slick Image is spelling at Dunoola Lodge currently, but he’ll soon be back with Trevor Bailey and there’s a lot more chapters left to be written in his story.