Thelburg has finally struck a purple patch of form, coming from behind to win at Bendigo a fortnight ago, and then leading all the way to win from a wide gate, taking out the Recycal Handicap over 1400 metres at Caulfield on Saturday.

The chestnut gelding, by Written Tycoon, has overcome a few problems in the past, but was right on putting two wins together; proving time and patience can be a great solution in a racehorse.

His trainer, John Sadler, has been patient with the gelding, it was never going to be easy, he has worked wonders with the horse, it is a credit to the skills of a successful trainer.

Thelburg had always promised a lot, except he was a bit short on the delivery date; however, he had them off the bit at all stages of the race of Saturday, and was never going to be beaten.

That city win was surely a great relief for Sadler and owner Alan Harvey; it gets the monkey off their back, with the entire family on hand to welcome the horse’s return to scale.

The gelding has been a work in progress for his owner –breeder Alan Harvey, whose patience was being stretched to the limits.

Thelburg has proved a slow maturing horse, he has taken time for the penny to drop, he will now go for a well deserved break and come back a much stronger horse as a five year old.

He still has time on his side, there is a lot racing left, he has had just the 14 starts for five wins, that was his first win in the city and it surely won’t be his last.

His grand dam, Gossip Maid by Snippets, was a more than handy mare, when mated with Danehill Dancer she produced a filly.

The resulted foal was kicked in the head by another horse and never raced, she was named Show’em Bonne.

She was finally mated with Written Tycoon when the service fee was $3,000, he has since been advertised at $80,000, the highest service fee ever for a Victorian based sire.  

Alan Harvey, a former chairman of the Werribee Racing Club, certainly put in the hard yards for the race club, he ran a hotel with the aid of his family, plus a farm, also he was on hand each day supervising the building of the new grandstand.

Thelburg winning at Caulfield