by Shayne Driscoll
Let’s look back to 2004, when the Makybe Diva Stakes was still known as the Craiglea Stakes.
Hugs Dancer, who had performed creditably in the previous spring for his international owners, had been purchased by OTI and moved to the Tony McEvoy stable. He had just the one run in the autumn, so often a tactic utilised at the time, finishing 2nd at Listed level in Adelaide. ‘Hugs’ came to the Group 2 Craiglea Stakes second-up for the preparation, following an even return two weeks earlier at Caulfield. Expected to need further distance to be competitive with Australia’s middle-distance stars, he was sent out a $26 outsider with the SPs and even bigger odds on the tote.
As a recent addition to OTI staff and surplus to requirements in an official capacity, I headed to Flemington with no expectations bar a nice day out with mates on the public lawn in glorious sunshine. I certainly didn’t expect the result that was forthcoming. Positioned midfield in the run in a moderately run affair, Hugs made his run down the middle of the track with an electric turn of foot to join race favourite Elvstroem in the lead at the 100m. He sustained his run to the line, pulling away to win by 1 length.
The feeling was euphoric for me, the first Group winner I’d been involved in with OTI. Perhaps over-excited! I vividly recall hanging over the mounting yard fence, excited for Terry and Simon and the ownership group, but somewhat desperate to be involved in the celebrations on some level. Simon noticed my carry on and, in hindsight perhaps embarrassed at the scene I was making, made his way over to me. “How good!”, he said. How good indeed!
Hugs Dancer was a horse I believe remains underrated in the history of OTI Racing. He would go on to contest the Melbourne Cup that year and, I would argue, was unlucky not to win it and most certainly should have placed. A horse that preferred fast ground, a rainstorm just an hour before the Cup was a hindrance to his chances. Putting that behind him, he found himself in a lovely midfield position and had moved to 8th as they entered the final turn, poised to pounce. Unfortunately, with horses making early runs around him, he’d be shuffled back to 19th upon straightening. By the time Greg Childs had extricated himself and Hugs from his predicament, the great mare Makybe Diva, was off and running towards her second consecutive Cup victory. Hugs stormed home into 5th position but the momentum lost around that final corner proved crucial.