Manikato. Adam Crettenden

their services to manage Manikato. The horse himself was well away from stable life and enjoying the late-autumn green grass at Seccull’s Yarra Park property, totally oblivious to hectic goings-on at his other residence.

      Seccull wasn’t going to be rushed into a decision. He had ties through the Victorian Amateur Turf Club based at Caulfield, so a relocation to a stable there was possible. He was also mindful that Manikato had achieved his success to date from an Epsom base and therefore, was willing to entertain another trainer from that location. He wanted to keep a sense of normality for the young horse when he returned to training.

      The weekend came and went. On Monday, one week on from Bon’s death, it was announced that Sir Alec Creswick would keep all of his horses that had been under Bon Hoysted’s care with Ross McDonald. That took McDonald’s team to around 20. Apart from the circumstances that it came upon, McDonald was pleased that many had trusted him to train their horses. But he wanted one horse in particular: the chestnut two-year-old quietly resting out near Yarra Glen. He knew provoking or hurrying Mal Seccull would not do his chances any good. Like everyone else in racing, he just had to wait.

      At Pakenham races the following day, McDonald saddled Bon’s former runners for the first time. Chelsea Square provided instant joy by winning with Gary Willetts aboard, sporting the colours of red and black hoops with a white cap—the registered silks of Bon Hoysted and ‘Father Fred’ Hoysted before him. When Titan Star made it a double later in the day, McDonald was hoping that it may be a good omen in securing the horse he really wanted.

      A few days later, Mal Seccull had made his decision.

      It was Sunday morning and in-between visits to the beach to swim horses, Ross and Margaret McDonald sighted May Hoysted hanging out the washing. May called them over.

      ‘Mal rang this morning. He’s decided to give Kato to Bob.’