Lacevinsky turns back the clock to claim Carnarvon Horse of the Year

An old adage in racing suggests horses can’t read birth certificates ... and evergreen WA galloper Lacevinsky has become the latest pin-up hero for the theory.

Prepared in the WA beachside town of Dongara by trainer Jackie Scott, the 10-year-old has defied his age in a remarkable on-track career turnaround to land the  the coveted Carnarvon Horse of the Year title.

Stunningly, Lacevinsky had not won any race for more than three years before this season and franked the title with one dominant final win on Carnarvon Cup day.

By Playing God, the gelding’s longevity is something to be admired and  a testament to how the best of equine welfare can translate to on-track performance.

The path to being crowned Carnarvon Horse of the Year was anything but a straightforward one – coming some seven years after his first win in 2018 as a three-year-old at Northam for leading Ascot trainer Simon Miller. Since then, he has passed through he stables of four different trainers, going from Miller to Steve Wolfe, Alan McNamara, Ray Malpass and finally to Scott and co-trainer/owner Will McNamara.  

Jackie Scott and Will McNamara after Lacevinsky's win on Carnarvon Cup day. 

The team has noticed a huge difference in the 10-year-old since moving from Albany to the State’s Mid West, with the change in climate a contributing factor to the resurgence in form, Will said.

“We’ve been taking him in the water and along the beach and changed the way we work him – he’s been a lot happier since he’s been up in the warm weather,” he said.  

“It was great to see him win one race and then to go on and have the season he did was really rewarding and well deserved for him.”

Before joining Jackie’s stable, Lacevinsky’s most recent win came at Albany in 2022. But he turned back the clock this season, with an unmatched record of three wins, four seconds and one third from nine starts – making him five points clear of runner-up Gold Spy.

On board for all three wins was apprentice Natika Riordan, who said it was great to get the chance to be legged aboard him for the season.

“He’s an amazing boy and a straightforward ride,” she said.

“You just have to let him roll through the gears and he just keeps fighting towards the line – he’s a tough horse. Whatever Jackie and William have been doing with him, they’ve done an incredible job.

“To have a horse at 10 years –of age go up to Carnarvon and show his form is impressive. They’ve just done an amazing job with him, really.”

Lacevinsky’s resurgence demonstrates how equine welfare underpins racing success and also tells a story of thoroughbred resilience.

Jackie and her team have taken the right approach, ensuring the horse’s training was well suited to the task ahead. It helped him not only hold consistency throughout the season, but soar to new heights.

After Saturday’s win, the veteran runner will have a brief, well-earned rest as the team navigates the next step for their award-winning gelding.

“He’s going to go to the paddock now for a few weeks to freshen up and then we’ll look to take him to Belmont and target a Wednesday race,” Will said.

“Jackie’s done a great job with the horse and all the help she’s given him has been amazing.” 

Josh Miller