By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
Anyone wanting to know where Jamie Donovan hails from only had look over the Redcliffe Paceway fence last Wednesday night.
The proud Queenslander, who is now based in Tamworth, was born and raised in the iconic Knight Street just adjacent to ‘The Triangle’.
At 8.35pm on Wednesday the 32-year-old became $12,000 richer – not because he was born in Queensland, but because the horse he trained and owns, was.
Rising 4-year-old Hurrikane Kingcole filly, Im Plain Jane, banked that Q-bred bonus as well as the $3,150 prize-money for winning race seven – the Garrards 3-year-and-older Pace. Australia’s number one reinsman, Peter McMullen, did the driving.
But it was no ordinary win. It was a 62.4 metre thrashing, with a new 3yo Fillies Track record to boot.
Im Plain Jane (7) was fourth at the bell before McMullen unleashed the bay filly down at the 800m. When they hit the lead at the 400m, they simply left their opposition to it, racing away to score by the biggest winning margin of the evening, if not the season.
Im Plain Jane paced the 1,780m mobile in 2:08.3 (mile rate 1:56) beating the previous track record by 0.7 of a second. Her sectionals were 29.1, 30.6, 29.2, and 29.3.
She has now won one of her 29 starts and placed in three others since making her debut at Newcastle on February 28, 2020.
Owned by Donovan and his partner, Rachel Walsh, Im Plain Jane, has only ever raced on that track or her home-base at Tamworth. Wednesday’s win was her first Queensland start.
“We came home for a holiday. I suppose you could call it a Q-bred holiday. We wanted to win our first Q-bred with her and now we will hang around and hopefully she will get her next one ($7,500) after January first.
Donovan is campaigning five horses in Queensland – Sweet Rippin, Under Other, Rippin Good Feelin, and Billboard Bonnie.
“They are staying at Rod Hinze’s stable close to where I was raised. It’s so great to see everyone again and be back home with family for Christmas.
“We arrived here last Sunday and will probably head back to Tamworth on January 6. This filly will now have a week off before I line her up again at either Redcliffe or Albion Park next week,” Donovan said.
Even though Andrew Millard trained and driven Sunny Cove was a pronounced $1.22 favourite, Donovan thought his filly ($5), could win with the right run.
“We knew it was going to be tough with Andrew’s gelding drawing two and us, seven, but I thought if we could get a run through, we would have the engine to go close. She’s one of the fastest fillies I’ve ever trained.
“She’s had an issue with her bloods and is now over that. I knew we certainly had the driver to win. My good friend Pete, who I grew up with, could win on a broom stick at the moment,” Donovan said.
Im Plain Jane was bred by Annette Geiger. She is the fifth of eight foals out of the 12-win Speed King mare, Don’t Fall For Me.
“Not longer after I was born my late father (Michael), was a private trainer for Annette’s husband, John. Annette bred Im Plain Jane after her husband passed away. Im Plain Jane’s dam, Don’t Fall For Me, who won two Group Ones – the New South Wales Oaks in 2008 as well as the Group Two 2yo Fillies Q-bred Final in 2007.
“Annette had a few foals from the mare and wanted to get rid of a few, and because we were family friends, I asked her if I could buy the filly. I’ve had her since her since she was a yearling,” Donovan said.
Donovan has now trained 32 wins ($198,746) since he first took out his licence in the 2006-2007 season. He has also saluted the judge 45 times ($245,585) since 2004.
“I still drive, but not as much. Why would I when reinsmen like ‘Leader Peter’ are much better than me. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed, but these days I probably prefer training more.”
Born at Redcliffe Hospital and educated at Ferny Grove High School, Donovan pursued an accountancy career when he left school.
“Dad was working a team of about a dozen at Redcliffe when I was born. He had previously worked for Ronnie McCall, also at Redcliffe. Even though I grew up around horses my parents insisted that I also have a trade to fall back on.
“So, I took their advice and studied accountancy and qualified the year I took out my trainer’s licence. I worked as an interim accountant in South Brisbane until June 2018 and then a month later I accepted a job in Rachel’s hometown of Tamworth. I originally met her when Dad used to campaign horses in Tamworth.
“We’ve been here since and I love it. We are working a team of eight and on ability I would say Sweet Rippin is the best of our current crop.
“But Bella Rippin would be the best I’ve trained,” he said.
The 2005 John Street North two-win mare, Willshe Rip, and from her first daughter, the 2012 nine-win Cammibest mare, Bella Rippin (nine wins, 1:56.4).
“As well as Bella Rippin the mare has also left us Seven Rippin Aces (by Aces N Sevens) eight wins; Rippin Good Feelin (By Mr Feelgood) two wins, and a Sweet Lou filly named Sweet Rippin, who has placed twice from four starts.
Donovan also has a For A Reason weanling filly (born October) out of Bella Rippin.
“I’m enjoying the breeding side of harness racing as well. With horses and accountancy, I’m kept very busy,” Donovan said.
Willshe Rip provided Donovan with his first training success in 2006, while the 19-win, Bonamax gelding, Melton Baxter gave Donovan his first victory in the sulky in 2004.
They were at Albion Park, but Donovan will have his fondest memories of his beloved Redcliffe,
“Redcliffe will always be special to our family, both as a town and as a racetrack. I was born next door and Dad’s funeral service was held on the track in 2015.
“That record win will stay with me for a long time,” Donovan said.
For the record: For some reason…. which completely baffles this ‘old school journo’…. Im Plain Jane has no apostrophe in ‘I’m’.
