Shattering Class, Ashcroft Forever Remembered

The story of late Collie horseman George Ashcroft and the horse he bought for $5000 at a yearling sale will go down in harness racing folklore. George, who died four years ago shortly after his 91st birthday, named his striking-looking Golden Greek-Earth Shattering colt Shattering Class and boy did the horse live up to his name. In a career spanning 189 starts commencing in November 1993 until his last start in June 2003, Shattering Class won 62 races – 52 of those at Gloucester Park – and was placed on 39 occasions for more than $811,000 in prize money.

Some of his more notable victories included three Celebrity Miles, a Fremantle Sprint, four J P Stratton Cups, four James Brennan Cups, two BOTRA Cups, a Tooheys Mile in Newcastle, two August Cups, a Marathon Handicap, two Winter Cups, a Lord Mayors Cup, a WA Trotting Media Guild Cup, a Battle of Bunbury Final and a close fourth in the 1999 Miracle Mile behind Holmes D G at Harold Park. Shattering Class also strung together a winning sequence of 14, all at Gloucester Park in 1999. Not a bad a effort for a horse bought for $5000.

On Friday night at Gloucester Park, a horse named after both George Ashcroft and his beloved horse will stake her claim as the best offspring of the late Shattering Class, who passed away in 2012 at the ripe old age of 20. The well-named Forever Remembered goes around in the Princi Smallgoods Est. 1979 Mares Pace (2536m) and despite being drawn wide in gate eight must be given a great each-way chance. Trained by George's son Errol and owned by his widow Beryl and the Ashcroft family, Forever Remembered lies second behind the retired Class Blaster as the most successful progeny of Shattering Class.

Class Blaster finished his career with lifetime earnings of $97,000, while Forever Remembered, a six-year-old mare, has banked $91,558 with the promise of more to come. Victory on Friday night would take her earnings well over the magical $100,000 barrier. "I think she is without doubt the best of Shattering Class's progeny," Errol Ashcroft said. "Forever Remembered was named after Dad and old Shattering. She's a horse you have to drive for luck. The pace has to be on and she needs to get a run, but she has a powerful sprint on her. She can really let fly for about 250 to 300 metres."

Ashcroft, who trains a six-horse team at Collie, has relied on Morgan Woodley to drive Forever Remembered at her three starts since her return from a four-month spell but regular reinsman Kyle Harper jumps back in the bike on Friday night. "Kyle has done a lot of work with this mare," Ashcroft said. "He was suspended when she returned to racing and wasn't available last week because he was the best man at a wedding. "He's helped her get to the stage where she's at now. Morgan has driven the mare well with three thirds, but he knows the situation and has offered his services if Kyle is unavailable in the future. She came hard at the end of her race last week when the last 800 metres was run in 55.5 – and Morgan said he had to take hold of her when the others were sprinting hard. She was blocked for a run."

Ashcroft is quietly confident about Forever Remembered’s chances. "She can finish off her races hard and the 2536 metres will suit her," he said. "I just hope they don't dawdle in front. She'll drop out from her wide draw and hopefully come with a big run at the finish."

Wayne Currall