Sea Salt takes out Norman Memorial
Everyone loves a grey and none more so than Tara-Shae Linke, owner-breeder of Saturday’s feature race Globe Derby Park winner Sea Salt.
The four-year-old mare notched her seventh win from just 15 starts with an all-the-way in the prestigious $11,000 Norman Memorial (1800m).
A virtually unbackable $1.18 favourite, Sea Salt, trained by Tara-Shae’s brother Tyson, and driven by Danielle Hill, was able to find the front from gate five and was never challenged in scoring a 16-metre win from Rolling Remona ($51) with Machete Roulette ($23), 10 metres away third.
The winner rated an excellent 1:56.8 dashing home her last 800 metres in a quick 57 seconds which explained why none of her rivals could emerge to challenge.
Winning driver Danielle Hill said Sea Salt was a very talented mare.
“When I first drove her, the ability was there but she was a tough drive because of her inexperience,” Hill said.
“She is definitely getting better every start and once she found the front tonight the race was over.
“The impressive part of the win was that she did it without ever being asked for a major effort.”
The victory was a perfect birthday present for Tara-Shae Linke who enjoyed her special day watching her loveable grey take out the Norman Memorial.
“It has been a big week,” Linke explained.
“At the HRSA awards night on Friday night, Sea Salt was named as the 2025 Three-Year-Old filly of the year.
“Unfortunately, I was flying home from Perth after a business trip and couldn’t attend but was honoured that she collected the award.
“This week, we also had to retire her older half-sister Coca Mia because of a leg injury which we picked up in the early stages. She can now go to stud this year.”
Coca Mia won 14 races from just 35 starts and picked up in excess of $65,000 in a career restricted by setbacks.
Trainer Tyson Linke said he knew during the week that Sea Salt was ready to show her best form on Saturday.
“I have been increasing her training schedule, and she is loving her work,” Linke said.
“On Wednesday I worked her with All De Rage (a fast class pacer) and she spanked him. I knew she was spot on for the Norman.”
Linke said under the current handicapping system, despite having had just 15 starts, Sea Salt’s rating would see her pitted against the state’s best pacers which were much more race hardened.
Longtime harness participants respect the importance of the Norman Memorial, a race restricted to mares.
The race is named after C H “Bob” Norman who founded the Allenby Lodge Stud at Kapunda in 1952, and which has been an integral part of the Australian breeding scene for more than 70 years.
Norman, the owner-breeder, and his brother Reg, the trainer, had a production line of quality performers from the 1950s through to the end of Wayville and start of Globe Derby Park.
The most famous was Aachen, the 1960 South Australian Cup winner which was more famous for creating a then Australian record winning sequence of 20 and later becoming Australia’s champion sire.
Aachen’s winning record lasted 11 years before being passed by Lucky Creed (24) then San Simeon (29).
The list of Norman winners is like a who’s who of South Australian harness racing – here are some – Findon Queen, Machine Again, Chief Spring, Merchant, Lawyn, Bylaw, Tankard, Pewter, Blue Proof, Peter Adios, Timimi, Resistance, Craftsman, Aladdin’s Lamp, Philadelphia, Ditto, and The Judge.
It is important the current administrators continue to recognise the importance of the Norman Memorial. It would not have been out of place being held a week earlier on the same night as the Adelaide Pacing Cup, Kindergarten Stakes and Fred Jones Trotters Cup.
In form trotter The Vicars Girl made it three straight wins with victory in the Bargain Steel Centre Trotters Handicap (2230m).
Trained and driven by Kevin Weidenbach, The Vicars Girl ($4.20 fav) found the front and was rated perfectly to win by 3-1/2 metres from a gallant Daisy Bouchea ($6) with Buckles ($5), 11-1/2 metres away third.
“She really is in a good patch of form,” Weidenbach said.
“She travelled well in front, and I took off with 600 metres to go to make it near impossible for the back markers to get into the race.
“Tonight was arguably her best win.”
- Story Graham Fischer
- photo Walter Bulyga