Famous colors are back – and winning!

Passionate Mildura harness racing owner Sharon Pettit has been enjoying the ride with her consistent pacer Linxx (A Rocknroll Dance) – but his most recent win in eye catching yellow, red and green colors was more significant than most.

The colors were the same as those used by Sharon’s late husband Adrian during the couple’s high-flying harness racing years in the 1980s and re-registered by Sharon earlier this year.

Adrian, who passed away in 2020, was a well-liked club steward, but in the 1980s put the polish on many winners, most notably in Jasmarilla (Tarport Low). She won 15 races as a two and three-year-old in the 1983 and ‘84 seasons and held numerous Australasian records along the way.

“Adrian drove her to victory at her very first start at Hamilton on March 4, of 1983. It was a combined two-year-old event, and the rest of the field was made up of colts,” Sharon said.

“And incredibly they all ran in the final of the sires’ stakes later that year.”

Jasmarilla continued on her winning way, stringing together nine consecutive victories but after her debut win the brilliant reinsman of the era, Ballarat’s Tom Mahar, was engaged to take the reins (ironically Mahar had finished last on 2/1 favorite Hot Fella when Jasmarilla opened her winning account!)

Included in her 15 victories (and four placings) from 22 starts were the 2yo Sires Stakes $40K final at Moonee Valley in June 1983 and the following season the 3yo fillies Sires Stake $10K prelude and $40K final, as well as the prestigious Gold Chalice.

“Jasmarilla was sold for $100,000 as a 4yo to the USA in 1985 and won half a million dollars. She was the richest Aussie mare at the time,” Sharon said.

Understandably, Adrian’s racing colors held a deep significance for Sharon, who has recently rejoined the sport as an owner, and Adrian’s original colors of yellow, red stars, green epaulettes and cuffs were re-registered and Linxx approved to race in the owner silks.

Red Cliffs trainer Kate Attard, who prepares Linxx, said after the horse won three of his first eight starts for Sharon, he then become “a professional placegetter”.

“When Sharon told me about her colors plan, I was fully supportive,” she said.

“I jokingly told her that Adrian would be up there checking the race results and laughing, thinking it was hilarious the horse was getting so close without winning again.

“I think it was at his second start with the new colors that he won at Mildura. We were all pretty excited. Sharon is such a great help around our stables—she recently went on a cruise to New Zealand, and we all missed her so much during the fortnight she was away.

“She even managed to squeeze in a visit to a Menangle trots meeting before taking a cruise on the Celebrity Eclipse!”

Linxx was purchased from enthusiastic owner Peter Cole.

“I think I’ve purchased three horses over the years from Peter and I’ve got to thank him as they’ve all been winners for me,” Sharon said.

“The first was Selaphobia, now in foal to Restrepo, followed by Just A Wink and now Linxx, who has been a surprise packet. We don’t know how far he will go, but Kate and I are having a lot of fun with him.”

Linxx has won four races and been placed a further eight times with stakemoney of over $25,000 since heading to the north-west.

After spending six years in the Air Force, Adrian Pettit was foreman for master conditioner, Ron ‘Tubby’ Peace in 1972 and ‘73.

“Nicotine Prince won the SA Cup in 1973 and I actually still have the rug and race photo,” Sharon said.

“Adrian won the 1980 SA Oaks with Lakubra, who also won a consolation of the Victoria Oaks. As well he trained Keystone Road who ran two minutes at Moonee Valley in 1982. She was the second fastest filly in Australia at the time.

“Adrian loved travelling and actually gave up training to become a travel consultant. We travelled to over 30 countries over 30 years. He later thoroughly enjoyed being a Mildura Harness Racing Club steward as he loved harness racing.”

Sharon was born into a harness racing family with her grandfather the popular and successful Stan Bibby, who trained such great horses as Future Raider, Future Intangible and You Crovottie and won Victorian Derbies, Kilmore Cups and a host of races at the old Melbourne Showgrounds.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink