Rogan Norvall returning to scale on Memories Only at Te Rapa today after breaking through for his first win in his latest comeback.
Of the seven winners at Te Rapa today there was none more popular than the win recorded by Rogan Norvall on Memories Only.
It was Norvall’s first win on yet another comeback from a setback and making the occasion even more memorable for him was the fact it was on a horse owned, bred and trained by his most loyal supporter, Cambridge trainer Linda Laing.
Norvall did all the early work on Memories Only, but because of his setbacks and injuries he has ridden him raceday in just under half his 13 starts.
He was aboard in his debut win at Rotorua in April 2016, but was unable to get back on until last March when Memories Only chased the smart Love Affair home at Te Rapa. He then rode him in his next three starts, but missed his following two runs and was obviously thrilled to be reunited today.
“A big thank you to Linda and the team to have this horse presented spot on,” said Norvall. “I just had to sit and steer it.”
It was a bit more than “just sit and steer”, but that’s modest Norvall summing up in his humble way.
With blinkers on for the first time, Memories Only bounced out quickly from the barrier in the Greene Brothers 1200 and was eased by Norvall to sit fifth, though trapped three-wide.
Norvall improved him to third at the 700 metres and had him up to challenge the leaders on straightening. Memories Only then hit the lead but had a fight on his hands with Fortune Patch before getting in the deciding stride to win by a half-head.
It was a brave performance from Memories Only and one which brought plenty of slaps on the back and handshakes of congratulations for Norvall.
Norvall has spent more time on the sideline than in the saddle since he was injured in a horrific barrier incident at Te Aroha just a week after Memories Only’s debut win.
His leg was crushed against the back of the barriers when his mount, Livingston, suddenly backed out of his stall and he suffered a compound fracture of his tibia, a spiral fracture of his fibia, and a break behind the left knee.
He underwent surgery to have a rod inserted and after a long, steady recovery he was finally back in raceday action 12 months ago, but it was to be a short-lived return to the saddle.
He kicked home one winner, Itsabird last March, and registered several placings, but by June he was again undergoing surgery, this time to remove the rod in his leg.
Once over that setback he did make it back raceday but his return was even briefer. He rode two placegetters, the Laing-trained Happiness Is and Roger Lang’s Senassy, on his first day back at Rotorua on September 17, then a couple of weeks later he broke his collarbone when riding trackwork.
Complications set in and the collarbone took longer than normal to heal, but he is now back doing what he loves best and getting a winner in his eighth ride on the latest comeback trail has whetted his appetite even more for success in his career.
“It’s definitely been a long road to recovery. It’s been tough,” he said.
