Mervyn | On and Off the Track

Mervyn is a 2013 Henny Hughes gelding who proved to be a talent on the racetrack. Trained by Luke Fernie, Mervyn raced across an extensive career of 57 starts for 10 wins, 16 seconds and four thirds. Piloted around by many of WA’s jockeys throughout his career, Mervyn was rehomed after racing to jockey, Jade McNaught, who rode the gelding for two of his wins and his final few races. Mervyn retired in 2022 with lifetime earnings of $432,215.

Following racing, Mervyn was retrained and competed by McNaught. Jade and Mervyn formed a strong partnership in the process, which helped them transition into an eventing career away from the racetrack.

In early 2024, Mervyn found himself back on the racetrack, except this time, it was as a clerk of the course. Teamed up with Clerk, Linda Brenzi, Mervyn’s experience as a racehorse set him up well for his newly blossoming career.

“The most important trait for a clerk horse is to be a good lead horse, which he (Mervyn) was from the get-go,” commented Linda. “The only problem I faced was whether I’d be able to hold him back!”

Luckily for Linda, Mervyn turned out to be a professional and quickly learnt that he was no longer a racehorse, but a very important member of the racing industry. Linda recalled her first catch with Mervyn, commenting that he was, “super-fast off the mark and caught the loose horse without a problem.”

When not working, Linda and Mervyn are venturing into eventing together. As a show horse competitor herself, Mervyn is teaching Linda the ropes thanks to his previous training with Jade. The pair have become quite the team, with Linda transitioning Mervyn into a talented clerk of the course horse, and Mervyn guiding Linda through the highs and lows of eventing. Linda and Mervyn placed third at their first eventing start at WAYER International Horse Trials in the OTT 65, which Linda attributes as their greatest achievement so far. Since that first eventing start, Linda and Mervyn have continued to have success with an additional fourth placing at Murray Eventing CCN in May.

“Mervyn is now a part of my family. He will continue to be a clerk horse and compete for as long as possible.”

Linda hopes to continue their eventing pursuits, with a strong focus on their dressage scores. OTTWA wish Linda and Mervyn all the best for their future together.

If attending the races at Belmont or Ascot, keep an eye out for Linda and Mervyn in their red clerking gear. You might just be lucky enough to spot them!

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