Talented Loki rewards Albany trainer Sherylanne Dombrowski’s patience with slashing home track win

Loki produced a slashing win in Albany on Thursday to reward local trainer Sherylanne Dombrowski for her patience with the talented galloper.

Dombrowski bred Loki and she is also among a family ownership of the six-year-old, who has had eight career starts.

Loki returned to the races for the first time in more than a year last month, when he was unplaced at Pinjarra. 

However, back at Percy Spencer Racecourse, Loki destroyed his rivals in the Pelicans Albany Handicap (1100m) to win by 2.6 lengths.

Jockey Kyra Yuill landed straight in front and was never headed in the home straight to defeat Raging Rocket and chalk up his second win.

Dombrowski only has two horses in work and said the win meant a lot.

“I bred the horse and I obviously train it and it’s family owned, so it’s a pretty special win,” she said.

“It had over 12 months off due to some ligament problems, so it’s just a real thrill to get him back to racing.

“I went to Pinjarra first-up thinking he could run in the top half of the field but it was 38C and I think the heat got to him.

“I didn’t realise two horses had been scratched until I was on course and I thought one of them would lead.

“I told Kyra to go to the front but don’t get in a fight if someone else wants to lead and then just roll them along from the 600m.”

Loki was Dombrowski’s first winner in the Great Southern this season.

“He will start here on Ladies day, then he might have a little let-up,” she said.

“I don’t want to travel with him in the summer and we might come back for some of the early winter races at Belmont.

“He has always shown something special; he’s a big horse and still growing at six years of age.

“I have always been of the opinion that you can’t grow and perform at the same time; that’s why he is so lightly raced.”

Steve Wolfe started the day on a winning note with consistent type Our Pandemonium winning race one for Peter Hall.

Scream in Blue produced a tough win over the staying trip for Paul Hunter and apprentice Jessica Gray in race seven while the Des Attwell-trained Long Knife Brother saluted at long odds in the last event for apprentice Holly Watson.

Apprentices Austin Galati and Watson were each fined $200 for having a mobile phone in their possession in the jockeys’ room while Natasha Faithfull was fined $300 under the same rule.

Frosty Beverage returned with cardiac arrhythmia after the running of race five.