It’s rare that Peta Southern-Ninnis and husband Paul aren’t trackside at Morphettville on a Saturday.
While she’s a key member of the South Australian Jockey Club Board, it’s Southern-Ninnis’ passion for her horses and the race day experience that draws her trackside.
The Ninnis’ have shares in more than 20 horses with leading Morphetville trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly and the Gordon Richard and Damien Moyle stables and were among a group to race former South Australian Horse of the Year and star sprinter Gytrash.
“It’s a hobby,’’ Paul said.
“I’ve got a bit of a spread sheet going,’’ he said.
“We need the spread sheet, so I don’t confuse Paul too much,’’ Peta said.
“I refer to the horses by their stable names, Gytrash is Lewis, it can get confusing as Paul refers to them by their racing names,’’ she said.
For the Ninnis’ racing is all about the fun and excitement of racing a horse.
“We’re not expecting to make money out of it, when they pay for themselves it’s great and we’ve made so many good friends through racing,’’ Paul said.
The pair said being involved with former star sprinter - Group 1 winner and 2020 SA Horse of the Year - Gytrash had been an amazing ride and one that continues with the galloper now the envy of many having retired at Simon Tolley Wines in the Adelaide Hills where his ownership group are regular visitors.
“Going to the Everest was fantastic, it was a great ride,’’ Paul said.
“Anytime any of the horses run in Melbourne we like to go over there and make a weekend of it, we’ve been fortunate that when we have gone over that we’ve had plenty of success at the same time,’’ he said.
“All I ever wanted was to win a Group 1, that was on my bucket list,’’ Peta said.
“Winning the Lightning Stakes was an amazing day.
“Being in the winner’s lounge and then invited to go to Royal Ascot was something else, we’ve been very lucky,’’ she said.
Their entry into horse ownership came with a small share that has continued to grow over the years.
“A mate asked me if I wanted to go in a horse, I think there were 60 of us and it only had the one win,’’ Paul said.
“After that I took a share in a horse with Gordon (Richards). It won its first race at Cheltenham and then it won its next start at Morphettville, and I thought 'how easy is this’.
“Before ownership I used to like the races, but I think I’d only ever been to the track a couple of times before that.
“When we don’t have a runner it’s nice to actually have a week off. When we do we like to go for lunch somewhere, but we usually find ourselves watching the races anyway,’’ Peta said.
Richard Jolly said the Ninnis’ were a perfect example of modern ownership, where a percentage share can still offer the complete racing experience.
“We met quite a few years ago at a function, they came into a horse, we’ve had a bit of luck and we are now good friends,’’ Jolly said.
“They are always keen to take a small share each year we go to the sales, that makes a trainer’s job a lot easier.
“Being able to take as little as 5 per cent has really made it a lot more affordable while having the same rights and benefits, that’s the landscape of racing now,’’ he said.