Sadie wins The Dark Horse

It was a race packed full of drama from false start to finish and at the end of the $40,000 Group Three The Dark Horse, Princess Sadie (Muscle Mass) trained and driven by Matty Williamson got the call.

As the large harness racing field assembled for the start, a number of the runners became fractious. When starter Ben Ward let them go, a starters assistant was bowled over so the whistle was blown for a reset.

In take two of the trotting feature, Williamson got Princess Sadie away well before dropping in to take a trail behind Nubliah Chamay.

“She was a wee bit slow today. One of her plugs came out as we came into line. She was a wee bit nervous, bobbled for a couple of steps and then found speed,” Williamson said.

After sitting pat for 800 metres, Williamson took Princess Sadie around to the front and continued to put pressure on the back markers. With 1200 metres to run Lil Whip came round to take control leaving Princess Sadie trailing once more. With 450 to run Lil Whip galloped in front of Princess Sadie, leaving Walkinonsunshine and Blair Orange in front, with all the momentum.

“I had to pull her off the back of the leader and she knocked off a bit. Blair was smart as he is and cut for home so we had a bit to make up.”

As Walkinonsunshine began to struggle, Princess Sadie under a hard drive from Williamson, got the deciding stride in to win by a head.

“In the last 100 metres she really got back into her work and switched back on. I wasn’t sure whether I got up. She was closing real hard in the last fifty and I was hopeful rather than confident.”

PRINCESS SADIE REPLAY

Hidden Talent’s third placing off 30 metres was the run of the race.

Princess Sadie trotted the 2200 metres in 2-50.0 while Hidden Talent ran post to post in 2-47.9.

The win was Princess Sadie’s seventh and her first Group success. It takes her earnings to over $200,000.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink