judge of pace … and sometimes my use and understanding of words is incorrect, so the message is slower getting through. But I’ll get there.” What does her current master, Fred Kersley, think? “At the moment I would describe her as a very competent provincial rider,” the trainer said. “She’s on a learning curve but she’s a natural lightweight, a tough nut and a hard worker. She’s determined and dedicated and her destiny is in her own hands now. She has the potential and she’s certainly improved since our first contact 12 months ago.” It’s no surprise she’s a ‘tough nut’, given her background, and I fancy you’d be unwise to bet against the girl they call ‘Tars’ or ‘Smiley’ making it on the regular Saturday city circuit. “That’s the goal now and hopefully I make it. But, whatever happens, it’s been a fantastic experience and people have been so good to me. All the
jockeys have been happy to help and trainers like Fred and Angela and Paul Jordan and Rod Bynder, who sadly died this year, have been great supporters,” she said. Maor’s visa expires next November, so the future is unclear. In the meantime she vows to keep improving and to work hard apart, from a break in January when she returned to Israel to ‘meet the family’ with new partner Josh Rodder, who is a marketing executive with Perth Racing. They were introduced by jockey Paul Dyson, who apparently noticed Maor’s Star of David and rang his mate Rodder, who is of the faith, to tell him: “I’ve just met your future wife.” Hmmm, I wonder if he added, “She’s probably not a girl to mess with.” So, can an Israeli-trained soldier – as legend would have it – really kill you with a credit card? “Well, it’s one of those questions where there’s nothing to be gained by denying it,” she said. Hmmm, hope she likes the story!
PHOTO COURTESY OF HOLLANDS-PHOTO@IINET.NET.AU
SOLDIERING ON
SMILING STAR: Talia Maor celebrates the win of George‘s Park.
g n i t t e b o n , g n i c a No r aeli Jockey Cl ub to inquire
Stephen Moranofemraaicinledg thineIsrIsrael. This is the reply: about the state Hi Stephen, Talia’s We in Israel have been following the with d ghte deli are and ess succ and opportunities she is now receiving elf. hers ed prov on how well she has Israeli Soon after Talia began riding, the 1999) and (in ed blish esta was Club ey Jock to for the last nine years has attempted try. coun this in g racin drive forward horse t anen perm only l’s Israe , Unfortunately ed at clos na, Han ess Pard se, cour race are now the end of June last year and we The ver. tsoe without any racing wha ers, situation is critical as owners, train g hard facin all are eys jock and ders bree for a times. The IJC is actively look ing new a unce anno to new site and hopes . year this venue early
on All raci ng in Israel takes place of ation cess the l unti and dirt natu ral of raci ng the IJC staged an average still no 10 day s raci ng a year. There is Israel the but , here ing lega lised bett seriously last) (at is d Boar ing Bett Spor ts inni ng beg look ing into the feas ibility of se, cour of ld, wou bett ing on raci ng. This d coul and ely plet com e change the gam for ket mar m boo new a into el turn Isra raci ng in the Middle East. t With rega rd to your question abou erie arad cam al enic building the ecum centres, that exists in many other racing matter I was only today discussing the pean with representatives of the Euro can act ng raci that eve beli Union. We all een betw tions rela er bett to uit as a cond our com mun ities with in Israel and with
with Arab neighbours, and hope that t it will spor the lega lisation of betting on nities ortu opp job d ede prov ide much-ne ote prom and ities mun com in rura l sides. harmony and cooperation on all ne onli our Please take a look at section racing magazine’s ‘Latest New s’ and om bly.c wee ews. ingn – israelirac s when a scroll dow n to the sum mer new part took ers runn num ber of Palestinian in our races. Kind rega rds, Paul Alster ions Head of Media & Com municat Israeli Jockey Club