Magic win for Cookie

It was an emotional day on Saturday for Michael Jensen as he cheered home his part-owned horse in the Gold Coast Aquis QTIS Jewel Plate.

NEVER FORGOTTEN: Michael Jensen with his mate Russell Cook, who he dedicated Saturday's race to. Picture: Contributed

HORSE RACING: It was an emotional day on Saturday for Michael Jensen as he cheered home his part-owned horse in the Gold Coast Aquis QTIS Jewel Plate.

The loss of his best mate Russell Cook a few year's ago was a turning point in Michael's own life.

The two grew up at the track and also dreamt of owning horses together. It never came to fruition, but on Saturday, Michael was trackside with Russell's brother Rodney as Ready to Roam ran third in the prestigious two-year-old plate.

"I always sort of hung around Cookie when we were young fellas in Stanthorpe and we lived together in Brisbane and he loved his racing," Mr Jensen said.

"We always hoped that one day we'd be in a position to buy a horse together but it never happened unfortunately.

"He died when he was 48 of a blockage in his heart.

"That was the impetus actually for me to get into getting shares in a horse. I didn't want to wait until it was too late really," he said.

It was nearly 12 months to the day that Michael jumped in on Ready to Roam, buying a share for his 50th birthday instead of having a party, he said.

The race was throwing up $500,000, with Michael and his co-owners sharing in the third placed $45,000 winnings.

"He was three or four pairs back and came with a pretty good run down the inside, worst part of the track and was 1.2 lengths off the winner which was a good effort for the two year old."

In his three races to date Ready to Roam has two second placings and now a third. Michael said that Cookie's wife Lisa and son Matthew were in his thoughts on the day.

"Cookie was a great mate of mine and great friend to a lot of people in Stanthorpe.

"He came third but that was just as good as first in my eyes. That one was for Cookie," he said.