Jeff Noske wasn’t running out of patience with Salorsci, but he might have been looking for new ideas.
Salorsci made a blistering start to his racing career by winning five of his first six races three years ago.
The Discorsi gelding was making a mockery of his $3,000 price tag. A bargain buy for Noske at a low-key Perth winter sale.
Noske thought so much of Salorsci that he raced him in the Group 3 Northerly Stakes (1400m).
The race was littered with stars including Gatting, Great Shot and Whispering Brook.
Unfortunately reality didn’t match Noske’s high ambition.
Up against top company for the first time, Salorsci ran second last and felt the effects of a tough run.
From that point on it had been a tale of woe for Salorsci. He was battling at best.
Plagued by a raft of injuries and two stifle operations, Salorsci could only manage a third placing from his next seven appearances.
After finishing well back in two Belmont winter runs last year, his future racing prospects looked bleak.
In what was almost a last ditch attempt, Noske changed course and transferred Salorsci to Lindsey Smith’s Warrnambool set-up over east.
His thinking being that a change of scenery could spark a revival. That thought process is now a masterstroke.
After nearly three years away from the winner’s enclosure and at his third run for Smith, Salorsci triumphed at Warrnambool on Wednesday.
In a throw-back to his early days of racing, Salorsci jumped smartly, looked sharp and was impressive in claiming an overdue victory in the Sinclair Wilson Handicap (1400m).
Relieved, happy and well satisfied, Noske had nothing but praise for Smith.
“I just thought a different environment might work for him and Lindsey has got everything over there,” Noske told The Races WA.
“I thought if anyone was going to get him back to his best it would be Lindsey.
“That was my thinking in sending him across.
“I said to Lindsey see what you can do with him.
“You can have him for one preparation and see if you can improve him.
“If you can’t then he comes back home to me.
“Lindsey worked out what was wrong with him.”
Salorsci kick-started a massive day for Smith’s operation. The elite trainer later enjoyed further success with Savaquin and Too Close The Sun.
Emerging stayer Too Close The Sun enhanced his reputation in the Warrnambool Cup (2350m), the gelding’s third straight win after the Terang Cup (2150m).
Former Perth galloper Savaquin, in his first interstate outing, won at double figure odds in the Silvan Ridge Handicap (1400m).
Despite the set-backs Noske said he never lost trust in Salorsci. The former top jockey and experienced horseman is certain there are further wins in store.
“He last few runs with me he wasn’t at his best,” Noske said.
“He was always slow away and must have been hurting from the problems he had.
“When you are slow away you are no chance.
“When he flies the gates he is always a big chance.
“Everything looks right with him and it appears he has overcome all those niggly issues.
“I’m sure he can go on with it now.
“I’ll talk to Lindsey in the next few days.”
Julio Santarelli