Cool And Classy and Grant Dixon after their stunning win in the $200,000 NSW Oaks. Photo by Club Menangle - Pacepix
EYE Keep Smiling showed she was not just the best mare in this country, but one of the best we’ve seen in recent years.
The Luke-McCarthy trained and driven mare scored the strongest win of her career in tonight’s $200,000 Queen Elizabeth II Mile, the highlight race of a big Pacing For Pink night with four Group 1s at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
Stuck three-wide in the early stages and racing without cover for the entire journey, Eye Keep Smiling just managed to hold off West Australian mare Steno (Jocelyn Young) to score by a head with Victorian Rakero Rebel (Blake Fitzpatrick) an eye-catching third.
The winner rated 1:49 and even McCarthy was impressed by the power she showed in holding off a sensational field of mares.
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure if we had held on,” he said.
“She had such a hard run; she was there to be beaten tonight.
“But she just tries so hard and never gives up. She was awesome.”
Earlier, the 2300m John Gibson Memorial NSW Oaks was touted as the most open race of the night . . . and the $200,000 Group 1 didn’t disappoint.
In a race where the tactics told the story, master Qld trainer-driver Grant Dixon and his ace filly Cool And Classy wore down Soho Americano (Luke McCarthy) in the straight to score a dashing win. Early leader Sugar Pie Honey (Ash Delosa) battled on courageously for third.
The winner rated 1:54.2 over the 2300m journey and Dixon admitted the race had become a really tactical battle right from the outset.
“I was actually pretty happy to make my move going down the back,” said Dixon.
“My partner Trista has much happier with this filly this week and she showed that tonight.
“Kevin and Kay Seymour bred her so that win will be super special for them as this filly has done such a great job for the stable.
There was one major upset on the night when unbeaten trotter Keayang Zahara tasted defeat for the first time in 16 starts.
Taken straight to the front by Glen Craven, another Victorian visitor Susan Is Her Name took a trail on Keayang Zahara and wore her down in the straight for a stunning victory.
“I know most people didn’t expect us to win, but I knew Emma [Stewart] and Clayton [Tonkin] had this mare ready to go and she was up for the challenge,” said winning reinsman Mark Pitt.
The two star trotters cleared out on their rivals and were just outside track record time, while yet another Victorian Aldebaran Acrux finished a stout third in a 1:51.6 mile.
A couple of hours earlier, the first Group 1 of the night almost provided a fairytale finish.
Champion reinsman Luke McCarthy darted clear turning for home with Gatesys Gem in the $75,000 NSW Trotters Oaks and looked set for an easy victory.
Then Tracey The Jet emerged from the pack and came from well back to almost pull off an upset for trainer Jess Tubbs and reinsman Grant Dixon.
Tracey The Jet was only beaten a metre, with Iron Woman (Kate Gath) a distant third.
“I did get a shock because I thought we were going to win easily,” said McCarthy.
“But she was holding them off on the line and both horses went really well.”
Gatesys Gem rated 1:57.2 in a race that saw second favourite Why Tanya Sue gallop and lose all chance, along with several other runners.
It was a night to remember as Club Menangle threw its support behind the second running of Coutts Pacing For Pink Race Night to support the McGrath Foundation.
An evening of elegance and fun, the charity event was “A Pink Affair”, with everyone getting into the spirit of the ‘pink’ occasion, hosted by former professional tennis player Casey Dellacqua.
Club Menangle continues an involvement that began in 2022 and has continued every year since across the nine race meetings held in May.
Their support includes: $200 for each win recorded by a driver in the Pink Pants at Club Menangle; $200 for each female training win recorded at Club Menangle and $200 for each win that is recorded by a horse carrying saddlecloth No. 8 at Club Menangle.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION TELEPHONE CLUB MENANGLE RACING MANAGER DAVID WONSON ON 0438-398251.
