Episode 389: Frank Cook

Punters and racing fans are familiar with the maroon, yellow and white silks of Mystery Downs, a company managed by Frank and Christine  Cook. The Cooks share in the ownership of enough horses around Australia to warrant the services of twenty five trainers. Frank took over full time management of Mystery Downs after selling his chain of nursing homes in 2014. In previous years he’d been the state and federal President/Chairman of the Australian Nursing Home Association. He begins by talking about his part ownership in Everest contender Lost And Running. Frank takes us back to childhood days in the Sydney suburb of Dundas where he and family would crowd around the radio to listen to the broadcast of trotting events. They devised a unique method of wagering. He talks of his interest in harness racing and his regular attendance at the iconic Harold Park track. Frank looks back on his job with the Department of Labour and National Service. He then had a stint with the Health Dept before receiving an offer to join the Aged Care Association’s management company. He was reluctant at first. He looks back on a life changing conversation with a stranger during a business trip to the USA in 1986. He says that conversation ledhim  to the purchase of his first nursing home in the inner Sydney suburb of Enfield. Frank talks of his marriage to Christine in 1990 and the rapid growth of his nursing home network. He talks of the high stress levels which influenced him to put his chain of eleven nursing homes on the market. He looks back on his very first trip to the winner’s circle. His $5500 filly Warning Siren was second over the line in the Gimcrack Stakes, but Frank was in for a pleasant surprise. He got his first look inside a steward’s room. Frank speaks fondly of a wonderful journey with the ever consistent galloper Hadaaf whose 15 wins and 17 placings netted $695,000. He won 12 city races. He was equally fond of Preferment whose 5 wins and 5 placings netted $3.4 million in prize money. A Victoria Derby and Australian Cup highlighted a glittering big race record. Frank takes us through the Fierce Impact story. The stallion was identified at the Tattersall’s Horses in Training Sale in the UK by Sydney trainer Matthew Smith. Frank and Christine joined the ownership group and enjoyed Fierce Impact’s three Gr 1 wins in Melbourne. He and Christine have never forgotten the thrill of Lasqueti Spirit’s all the way win in the 2017 Victoria Oaks. It was the filly’s only win in 22 starts. Six placings helped to take her prize money tally to just under 1 million dollars. Frank recalls her indifferent form leading up to the Oaks. Frank acknowledges two recent Gr 1 winning fillies Shout The Bar and Zougotcha. He outlines the creation of he and Christine’s Mystery Downs operation. Frank and Christine both use the maroon, yellow and white combination in their racing colours but with different designs. Frank says he started out with different colours but had them changed when he struggled to see them one misty day at Hawkesbury. The high profile owner runs through the names of twenty five trainers currently employed by Mystery Downs. Frank acknowledges a handful of trainers he’s been using for several years. He mentions two worthy charities supported by Mystery Downs. I’ve had Frank on the podcast shortlist for quite some time. Great to catch up with him at last.