The transition from the playgrounds of the rich and famous to the daily rigours of training racehorses has been a smooth one for New Zealander John Bary.
He travelled the world as a professional polo player for almost a decade before deciding to return with his wife Laura and two young children.
“I lived in Argentina and then America for six years,” Bary said.
“It was great but eventually it was time to settle down and be with the family.”
Bary bought a sheep farm but horses were in his blood and thoroughbreds presented a new challenge.
His great-grandfather Wilfred “WG” Stead was a prolific owner of racehorses and the 1916 Melbourne Cup won by Sasanof had pride of place on the mantelpiece above the fireplace in Bary’s boyhood home.
With that inspiration to spur him on, Bary appointed a manager for the sheep farm a couple of years ago and focused on training full-time.
Success came quickly and Bary made his first foray to Australia in May 2010 and claimed the Group Three Rough Habit Plate with The Hombre.
As the saying goes, there’s a better one at home and in Bary’s case it was true. Jimmy Choux has won two Group One races and is favourite to make it three in Saturday’s Rosehill Guineas.
“He’s a freak,” Bary said.
“He runs on any sort of ground, he can go back or go forward and just loves competition.
“He has always been good but now he has really matured.
“The turning point seemed to come on Boxing Day when he won the Great Northern Guineas. He changed from that day on and has just kept going.”
Jimmy Choux has won his three starts since including the New Zealand Derby after which Bary boldly declared he would never run over 2400 metres again.
A study of the weights for the Doncaster Mile prompted a rethink and after deciding the task for a three-year-old against seasoned campaigners such as More Joyous and Danleigh was too hard, Bary opted for the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and the AJC Australian Derby (2400m).
“The three-year-olds are not well weighted against the older horses,” he said.
“We will take him to the Derby and then look at a race like the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.
“I’m keen to travel him because he is a colt and it will enhance his future at stud.”
If Jimmy Choux can win the Derby, the trophy will be a companion for that won by Kilboy in 1916 in what was a stellar year for Bary’s ancestor.
If he doesn’t win the Derby, Bary has still had a stellar year with the promise of more to come.
“The Hombre will run in the Group One Easter Cup at home,” Bary said.
“And then I plan to bring him back to Queensland for the Doomben Cup.
“I’ve got good staff at home so that means I still get to travel.”
After opening equal favourite with Absolutelyawesome, Jimmy Choux displaced him on Thursday at the head of the Guineas market at $3.40.
AAP TURF
