Eye Keep Smiling avenges in Riverina championships

Star harness racing mare Eye Keep Smiling (Sweet Lou) avenged her unlucky loss last year when she went one better in taking out the Listed $100,000 Nutrien Equine Riverina Championship for mares at the Riverina paceway on Saturday night.

On the strength of her effortless win in the Prelude on Tuesday night, Eye Keep Smiling was confidently expected to go one better after narrowly losing in last year’s Final.

And certainly driver Luke McCarthy drove the mare with the confidence expected of an odds on favourite. From the second row Eye Keep Smiling gradually moved around the field. Will Rixon who found the lead on Ever Art was content to take the trail behind the leader and after that it was really a matter of Eye Keep Smiling to keep her mind on the job.

Lux Aetena who chased home Eye Keep Smiling on Tuesday night made a run from the rear to go alongside Eye Keep Smiling but the latter simply moved into another gear on straightening. Ever Art who had done some work early continued to battle on but Eye Keep Smiling had plenty in reserve to defeat Ever Art by just under eight metres with Lux Aetena holding on for third.

EYE KEEP SMILING APR 19 REPLAY MARES CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

A winner of her last four starts Eye Keep Smiling has now won 20 races from 32 appearances and has now passed the half a million dollar stake money mark.

Eye Keep Smiling’s owner Jackie Gibson was especially pleased following the event.

“It’s a very special win tonight after coming second last year. We sell our products through Nutrien products and it was fabulous that they were sponsors of this race and to race under their banner is really cool to.”

“She has a very special place in my heart and its just hard to describe. She’s earned over half a million dollars, we bred her so its super thrilling.

Luke McCarthy will make the call for us. The Queen Elizabeth that’s the race we want to target and that’s been on my radar for a while. But Luke makes all the decisions.”

Indeed it would seem that Eye Keep Smiling will be at the forefront if McCarthy decides to take on the Group 1 $200,000 Queen Elizabeth Mile at Menangle on 10 May.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink

Interview Courtesy Campbells Comments