Eye Keep Smiling continues her formidable run of success

Eye Keep Smiling (Sweet Lou) who is arguably the nation’s best mare currently in the country gave another dazzling display with an all the way win in the Listed Ladyship Stakes named after her at Menangle Park on Saturday evening.

Drawn the outside draw of ten, Eye Keep Smiling went out with My Moonlite Dream and Pandaia early but Luke McCarthy allowed her to stride to the front and running her first quarter of 27.2 seconds.

By contrast her main rival Steno was taken back to the rear of the field by her driver Jocelyn Young although she was able to get a trail of sorts behind Tay Tay. Nonetheless she was having to spot Eye Keep Smiling a decent break and although she unleashed a fast sprint in the last 400 metres the task was always going to be beyond her.

EYE KEEP SMILING JUN 7 REPLAY

Eye Keep Smiling was able to run her last quarter in a sizzling 26 seconds and she drew away to win comfortably by seven metres from a gallant Steno with My Moonlite Dream a much improved third.

Trainer driver Luke McCarthy considers Eye Keep Smiling as the best mare that he has trained, high praise indeed for one of the country’s leading harness racing identities.

Eye Keep Smiling seems invincible in this preparation having won her last seven appearances. What is particularly impressive about her is that she can still do a lot of work in the race and yet have enough in reserve to hold off the opposition.

Steno who was narrowly beaten by Eye Keep Smiling in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Menangle in May lost no admirers with another determined effort but as stated she was giving too much of a start. While she was winning her races in Western Australia she was virtually unbeatable when in front and obviously if she does secure an inside draw she may finish closer.

At this stage the two mares are due to clash again in the Group 1 $150,000 Golden Girl at Albion Park on 19 July and they look set to have another intriguing clash.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink