Sport
22 July, 2021
Star trotter claims fourth group one
LOCAL trotting sensation Pink Galahs captured her fourth group one in stunning fashion on Saturday night.
LOCAL trotting sensation Pink Galahs captured her fourth group one in stunning fashion on Saturday night.
The star mare showed she had returned to her glittering best as she produced a barnstorming run to win the $52,000 Darrell Alexander Trotting Championship at Brisbane’s Albion Park.
Having won two lead-up heats heading into the final, many questioned whether Pink Galahs could become the first trotter to go through the championships undefeated.
But the daughter of Skyvalley put the doubters to bed with ease when she unleashed a trademark sprint from the 600 metre mark en route to cruising to a 6.9 metre victory.
Trainer Matthew Craven, who drove the trotter to victory, said Pink Galahs had taken his stable on “an amazing journey”.
The four year-old has raced 30 times for 16 wins, netting connections just shy of $290,000 in prize money.
“When random people come up and ask about her it just makes you realise how lucky you are,” Craven said.
“She’s extra special to us, and it’s not just her results that make her that little bit special as well.
“She tries so hard, she’s small and not typically a cut of a good horse but she’s got something inside that most don’t have and I think that’s what makes her so special.
“She’s so willing and such a small little package, everyone looks at her and can’t believe how she does it.”
Craven said the performance and result was also extra special for connections, with part-owner Bryan Healy watching his horse live for the first time.
The trainer was wearing the same colours Healy made famous partnering trotting superstar Maori’s Idol in the victory.
“She seems to capture a lot of people when she does these things,” Craven said.
“We got a lot of congratulations from a lot of people which is very humbling, while it was nice one of her part-owners Brian Healy was on track.
“It was the first time since 1978 he’d had a horse in a race up there in Maori’s Idol, he’s retired to the Gold Coast, so that was nice for him too.”
While the finish showed Pink Galahs had recaptured some of the glittering form shown in her three year-old season, the early part of the run was an uphill battle.
The stand start, which has often proved problematic for the trotter, once again saw the pair concede ground as the frontmarkers pushed clear early.
“It took her a lap to find her rhythm (on Saturday night) and we were really battling to even tack on because from the stand she finds it hard to get her rhythm.
“We had to spot them a big margin after a fair start out of the stand but she eventually got a nice run into it.
“She sustained that around them and then she let go a big sprint, but in the end she did enough.
“She showed her best on Saturday night which was really good.”
With a fourth group one under her belt, Pink Galahs will now be aiming to make it five this weekend, with the mare set to tackle the group one $51,000 Queensland Trotters Cup.
A number of her rivals including Humble Ladd, Godofthunder, Majestic Simon and Red Castleton will also back up into the event, while star Sydney gelding Tough Monarch has headed north for the race.
Tough Monarch has been racing in “career best form” of late and is expected to prove a danger in the event.
“We’ll just have to see what happens but this was her main target and we’re hoping she’s fully peaking for this week,” Craven said.
“There’s a couple more quality horses added to the field so it’s not going to be easy but we’re hoping she can be right in the finish.”