Conroy family looking to continue feature success

Harness racing trainer Anne-Maree Conroy continues star trotting mare Margaret Ruth’s return to the track in the Group 3 Alamora Tarneit Now Selling Lightfoot Laurels (2240m) at Melton on Saturday night. Click here for fields.

Margaret Ruth won the Lightfoot Laurels in 2018.

The Conroy family has had considerable success in the feature, also winning with Lucy Lastic (1997) Miss Universe (1999 and 2001) and False Gem (2008).

Margaret Ruth has been plagued by hoof and leg issues throughout her career, with Conroy describing her as a “little bit fragile” and consequently difficult to get a lot of work into.

The 13-time winner had her first race start since November last year with a ninth to Maori Law in the Group 3 John Slack Memorial Trotters Cup in Ballarat on July 20.

“She pulled up well,” Conroy said.

“She’s been in work a long time, on and off.

‘We’ve persevered. Hopefully she’ll get going and back to the form she showed a few seasons ago.

“There’s nowhere for her to hide. I just have to get her in among it and see how we go.

“I don’t believe in giving up.

“She’s the only one we’ve got of that class and I’m prepared to wait.

“She belongs to Mum and we can take her time.”

By David Brehaut for HRV