By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
Redcliffe Harness Racing Club Vice President, Mark McNee, has always been a quality horseman, but this month particularly, the Redcliffe trainer has returned some phenomenal results with a reformed pacer that has no idea he is 10 years of age.
The McNee-trained and Bryse McElhinney-driven La Safron (Saffy) will be attempting to nail his fourth victory in 13 days at ‘The Triangle’ tonight (Monday March 20th). The Safari gelding has drawn ideally at barrier two in race five at 7.49pm.
La Safron and Nathan Dawson won from gate three on March 8, and then McElhinney saluted the judge behind Saffy from gates one and eight on March 13 and 16 respectively. La Safron (1:56.8) has now won 22 of his 222 starts, and placed in 62 others for $141,842 in purses.
He is owned by McNee and his friends, Shane and Neta Malone, who have had him since November, 2020.
“He’d been through a few trainers when I got him from Shane Graham. He was with Shane and Shane told me he was no star but would win a few races.”
“I paid $4,000 for him and he’s more than repaid that debt. He’s a new pacer now that I’ve started training him tougher and backing him up. He thrives on racing and that’s why he’s in again on Monday after winning on Thursday.”
“He will tell me when it’s time to retire, but for now he’s loving it. Bryse doesn’t get many opportunities in the bike and he’s a very underrated reinsman. He drives this horse very well,” McNee said.
“Not many people realise it either, but Bryse could have made it as a race-caller as well,” he added.
La Safron hasn’t finished further back than third in seven starts at Redcliffe since February 15.
He tied for ‘Redcliffe Horse of the Year’ in 2021 and in the same year proved his versatility.
“Meaghan and Madison decided to take him to Woodford Show and Redcliffe Show, doing very well on both occasions. Meaghan handled him at Woodford Show and finished with second places and overall Reserve Champion Standardbred. Redcliffe Show was the morning after he raced on a Saturday night, but he still managed to win his class and walk away with Champion In-Racing Standardbred.”
McNee said he liked La Safron so much he bought his younger brother for family and friends, the 2015 Shadow Play gelding, True Grit Shadow, from down south.
“I didn’t actually realise until later on just how good La Safron’s mother, Grace Anatomy (by Island Fantasy) was. She didn’t race but all of her foals have been a winner,” McNee said.
Grace Anatomy left seven racehorses between 2009 and 2016, the third foal was La Safron (22 wins).
“True Grit Shadow has won three of his 21 starts and finished second at his last start at Redcliffe. I’ve had him since December 2022. I’ve won a race with him and had two placings. He’s in again on Monday (race 1, number 4 – 5.29pm),” McNee said.
McNee, an accomplished farrier for 30-plus years, said La Safron definitely turned the corner when he started putting more work into him and racing him more.
“La Safron has always had high speed but hasn’t always used it. I think it all started to change for him when he ran an encouraging fifth at Albion Park in July 2021 and then won his next start.”
“I drove him that night he felt so good. That was just three days after his nice fifth in the city when the winner went 1:53.4,” McNee said.
“Different horses have to be trained differently, but if I wanted a pet, I would have bought myself a goldfish,” he added.
He said when La Safron was retired he’ll spend his final days in 20-acre paddock with one of McNee’s other top pacers – the 2015 Bettor’s Delight 20-win ($109,731) gelding, Lifes Black (1:52.4)
McNee reeks harness racing and Redcliffe. His family are an institution at ‘The Triangle’. He was born and educated on the Peninsula, and has been a lifetime Dolphins rugby league supporter from day one.
Speaking of day one, had it not been for the McNee family there might not have been a Redcliffe Harness Racing Club.
“My grandparents helped build the track and my uncle built the hub rail. My Aunty and Nan also run the cafeteria at the very first Redcliffe meeting in the mid-1950s.”
“So it’s an honour to be both a horseman and vice president for a club and town which runs very close to the McNee heart,” said McNee whose wife is the step-daughter of the late top-flight Deception Bay trainer, John Kann.
As well as learning the intricacies of harness racing, McNee has worked for all of Redcliffe‘s top trainers, including the unofficial ‘Redcliffe Hall-of-Famer, the late Ron McCall and including the likes of Errol Holmes, Eldon Papworth plus Rodney Belford, too.
McNee has trained 216 winners, from 2,380 starts since the 1984 season. He has also had 510 place-getters for $993,834 in purses. His best season came in 2001-2002 when he was victorious 25 times and banked $138,820.
In the sulky McNee has saluted the judge 116 times. He’s also placed 322 times and banked $408,909 in stakes. His best season was the 2010-11 when he triumphed 12 times ($43,199).
McNee said he clearly remembered his first winning drive.
“That was behind a horse named Le Shar Brae in 1983 at Maryborough (Queensland). Mick Grant owned him with Robert ‘Crash’ Cradock.”
Then when asked what his most memorable moment in the sport was, McNee replied:
“Taking Miss Galvinator to win the feature mares race at Harold Park (May 2004).”
McNee said he decided to “give back” to his beloved club when Aileen Smith approached him to stand on the Redcliffe committee in 2017.
“I wanted to give back what the club has given me, and I really enjoy the work. I have been vice president for several years now and have no immediate intentions of standing for President.”
“Bernie (Ring) is President and he’s been voted to stay on for another three years (10 total), and we will see what happens then. I’ve already filled in for him at a few ceremonies, but to be honest I prefer the behind-the-scenes work.”
“Bernie and his committee are doing a great job and I’m proud to be a part of that progressive team,” McNee said.
The McNees have four children Madison, Melanie, Meaghan and Matthew.
“I’m very proud of all four. Madison used to do the mini trotters but is now a Microbiologist, Melanie is studying Psychological Science as she left horses early on. Then there’s Meaghan (17), who does a lot of work around the stables for me. In fact La Safron’s last win was Meaghan’s win because she took the horse to and from the races. Lastly, Matthew never had an interest in horses and decided to take the rugby league path.” McNee said.
Marks greatest other love is rugby league and the Redcliffe Dolphins.
“I love league and I’ve played for the Dolphins since Under-7s, but I stopped playing at 21 – it’s really heartening to see them do well. I’ve coached the Dolphin Juniors for the last 7 years. Between those lads, my family, the Redcliffe HRC committee work, my farrier work, and my training, I’ve got quite a busy life,” McNee said.
Some of McNee’s best horses over the years (with stakes and wins) have been:
Lifes Black – 20 wins & $109,731; Miss Galvinator – 15 wins & $94,268; La Safron – 22 wins & $70,927; King Galvinator – 13 wins & $58,784; Our Galvinator – 14 wins &45,238; Gigantic Jasper – 4 wins & $27,050; Sir Galvinator – 4 wins & $26,997; Sammy Power – 5 wins & $25,077; Stanbesideme – 5 wins & $23,240; and Breakfastattiffanys – 5 wins $21,525.
“I’ve had many good horses over the years, who have won a few races for me, and then gone on to race well overseas. Our Galvinator won 10 of 17 here and then when he reached his mark he was sold to the United States and raced well over there.”
“He was owned by a loyal client and friend of mine Paul Galvin. Without owners there is no harness racing,” McNee said.
La Safron and Bryse McElhinney rack up win number 22 from start number 222 at Redcliffe Paceway last Monday night (March 13).
