How a priest inspired the name of Flemington runner The Silent Sermon
When a country parish priest swapped mass for a “silent sermon” the last thing on the Father’s mind was inspiration.
Still feeling the pinch of the night before at the local with the “Delahunty crew”, the popular man of the cloth dared not think of failing to finish the service.
Comeback trainer Majella Ballantine was reminded of the quirky tale by her Delahunty cousins as they workshopped a new name for their family-owned racehorse The Silent Sermon.
“We‘d named the horse Keeper’s Glove originally and then we were told it was the name of a cheap port from Aldi and that became a name we couldn’t use,” Ballantine said.
“We were having a few beers at the Railway Hotel at Murtoa one night and the story of the ‘silent sermon’ came up.
“It was the story of another priest who was out one night with all the Delahunty crew and had a few drinks with them and pulled up a bit short the next morning for mass.
“Got to the time he was to give his sermon and wasn’t feeling too well.
“He said ‘this morning I think we’ll have what I call a silent sermon, we can spend some time reflecting on the good things God has given us’ so he sat down.
“He broke out in a sweat, didn’t think he’d get through the rest of mass but he got through.
“That is the true story of the silent sermon.”
Majella Ballantine with The Silent Sermon (left) and Cracking Night. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied
Ironically, a recently retired parish priest of Horsham is in the ownership of the Sooboog gelding, although Father Peter Hudson was not the clergyman aforementioned.
Ballantine, the daughter of late long-time Murtoa trainer Jack Delahunty, trained her first runners back last month after a four-year hiatus.
With a very busy day job, children finishing up high school and caring for her elderly father and racing mentor, who passed in 2018, something had to give for the registered nurse.
“I had a bit too much on my plate and had a spell for a couple of years,” Ballantine said.
“Ultimately, I thought I would always come back.”
She has just the two horses in work, The Silent Sermon and Cracking Night, so the chance to run the former at Flemington on Saturday was never going to be taken for granted.
Drying conditions work against The Silent Sermon but Ballantine is hopeful the Ballarat maiden placegetter will rise to the occasion with jockey Ben Melham aboard.
“I think he’ll acquit himself very well,” Ballantine said.
“Melham has ridden a few winners for me so I’ve gone back to him hoping for some Melham magic.”
Ballantine has 33 career winners, with success in town at Sandown, The Valley and Caulfield.
Her father Jack Delahunty trained four Flemington winners including the 2001 Crisp Steeple.
Originally published asA priest walks into a bar … and inspires racehorse name
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