The mare raced in Kaikoura on Sunday but broke a spreader and was pulled from the race.
“She had only run half a race in Kaikoura so we weren’t too worried about supporting her,” Mitchell said.
Driver Sam Thornley turned on Fear Gogh early and she moved to the front from barrier five with ease.
“It was good to see Sam take the bull by the horns and lead the way, because she does have some gate speed.”
Thornley kept the pace and the four-year-old took to the line to win easily by four lengths from favorite Iamthecaptainnow.
FEAR GOGH REPEAT
Her first win came at start forty-three.
“If she had had 40 starts with nothing in the bank she would have been done by now. We put the blinds on her today and it was only the second time she had them on. We tried them at Kaikoura but she clearly didn’t get a fair chance at them. She has a one-arm spreader which broke at Kaikoura and she also carries a pole but she broke it before the start today and never wore it.”
Prior to today’s victory, Fear Gogh had run nine seconds; one within a head of the winner and two within half a neck and Mitchell says she’s not done yet.
“I don’t think the increase in grades will bother her too much because she can keep up with the speed.”
The Robertsons purchased Fear Gogh’s grandmother, Fearless Freda, at an All Aged Mixed Sale.
“Cran Dalgety trained her and she won a Sales Series race as a two-year-old. Her first foal for us was Fear Flying, with which we won three races. Her second foal was a nice horse called Fear Crusin, who won a few races and we sold to Australia for quite a lot of money.”
Fear Crusin won another twenty races in Australia and earned over $200,000.
It is a family with a rich history and the pedigree page features horses such as Speedy Guest, Batchelor Star, Main Star and Main Adios. And more recently Bar Louie.
Fear Gogh’s win today moves her into the top three for next month’s Harness 5000 $60,000. Nominated race for four-year-old mares.
For full race results, click here.
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
#Fear #Gogh #breaks #girl