Dat Lovely Photo by Photography by Jodie Hallows
David Gravolin may have had a nine-year hiatus from the racing scene, but he hasn’t forgotten how to train and on Monday at Pinjarra he got his first win back, a moment that still feels as special as they come.
“It was exciting, it was really exciting actually because it’s a hard sport as you know, and tough, and it is very difficult to win races as everyone else can understand, but it was really exciting and good to get that first win out of my new stable.
Purchased from Queensland, Dat Lovely made her way over to the Wandi stables of Gravolin in 2024 and had her first start for the new stable on February 15 when she finished fourth at Northam.
Knocking around in the minor placings, Dat Lovely finally got that win on the board at Pinjarra with junior driver Toby Lynn on board when the pair made full use of the sprint lane on offer in the concluding stages to run down the leader in Ashima, to win by a 2.3m margin in1:59:9 in the mares’ race over the 1684m sprint trip.
Gravolin, who currently has three racehorses in his stable is hoping to ramp that up to six in the near future, with hopes to purchase a couple out of New Zealand.
With a lifelong involvement and passion for the industry, Gravolin took a nine-year break to concentrate on his asphalt business but with his two sons involved in the business now, he decided it was time to get back into what he loves.
“I’ve just set up a new stable in Wandi, I was training out of Oakford and decided to get back into it because I’ve got a lot more time now.”
Taking out his trainer’s licence initially in the 2003/2004 season, Gravolin’s now had 33 career wins including six with Finbar Abbey NZ and eight with Eastwood Highlander NZ
“My dad used to train, and I used to work for Peter and Jimmy Schrader when I was a kid, many, many years ago, so I learnt from my dad and those guys, and I had a few horses as an owner mainly with Trevor Warwick and Ross Olivieri.
“I’ve mainly owned horses and stayed as a hobby trainer, but I wanted to do it myself.”
Along side Dat Lovely, he has Madam Maggie and Synchronizer racing, with Madam Maggie engaged tonight in race five barrier three at Gloucester Park.
Yet to own a yearling before, Gravolin made mention that after watching the APG Yearling Sales online he got the urge to purchase filly lot 319 Follow The Stars x Hugmeifuluvme for $6000 after she passed in on the day.
“I’ve never ever had a yearling in my life and I was watching the sales on TV and I noticed a few get passed in and she had a reserve of $6000.
“Sight unseen, I went and bought her from Bullsbrook and all the staff came out, there was about 10 of them and they loved her, you could tell she was really looked after, but she was the smallest thing I’ve ever seen.
“They look really big on TV but she’s tiny. She’s at my place right now but she will go to Donny’s (Donald Harper) in a few weeks.”
Dat Lovely is likely to head back to Pinjarra next week to contest a similar mares race.
Ashleigh Paikos
