Geeves mare to tackle a quality field

In-form harness racing mare Whey Better (Betterthancheddar) will be chasing her sixth win of the season when she lines up in the More Confidence Pace in Hobart on Sunday night.

The Mark Geeves-trained mare has won three of her past four outings.

“She is going very well,” said her trainer, owner and breeder about the mare that has done it tough in her recent wins.

“That seems to be the pattern she likes, doing it tough and outstaying them.

“She has done more than I expected or ever hoped for,” Geeves said.

Whey Better didn’t win a race until her 12th race start, and she has gone on to win 12 races and just over $92,000 in prize money.

“She always had the ability as a young horse. She just didn’t have the strength.

“She was a bit immature and lightly framed when a young horse, but she has grown into herself and has got a lot stronger.

“I have been lucky to place her in races where she has had a good opportunity to win.

“From now on, it will get a bit more difficult,” explained Geeves.

While the mare is racing in good form, she had a trip to stud on Monday, with Geeves hoping she is in foal to Pebble Beach.

She takes on a tough rating 70 to 79 field on Sunday, which includes last-start winners Spooky Girl, Killarney Dance and Young Rooster, while horses such as Letsgobro, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Rossini are all dropping in class.

And while Whey Better may end her racing career in a couple of month’s time, the Geeves name won’t be lost to upcoming form guides.

“I have a couple of young ones that I’m working on that will replace her in time,” he said.

Sunday’s 10-race Hobart program features two races for the maiden two-year-olds, where impressive Carrick trial winner Hy On A Hill will be looking to make a winning debut for trainer-driver Rohan Hillier in the second race.

The Hobart meeting commences at 17:07, with the first two races scheduled for Sky Racing 2 before the meeting switches to Sky Racing 1 from race three.

All races will be shown on TasracingTV.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing