Hes Charlies Angel triumphant in Tassie

A strong win by Hes Charlies Angel (Sweet Lou) on Sunday night (Mar 10) clearly justified the Victorian pacer’s Tassie “holiday” – but his trainer Charlene Gusman is equally excited about what the future holds.

Hes Charlies Angel sustained a tough run to take out the $12,000 Westwood Quarry Stakes at the Carrick harness racing meeting, driven at his third Tasmanian start by his caretaker trainer Rohan Hillier.

“We went down there for the Tasmania Cup, but he was brand new at the standing start, and he didn’t get away very well in his heat (finishing 8^th),” Gusman said.

“The second week in the final was a better start, and he handled it better, too, but he didn’t have much luck and it was certainly good to get back to the mobile start conditions on Saturday night.

“When he drew the front row (barrier 4) at Carrick we knew we were a good chance, but it would still be difficult on a track with no camber. Rohan said the horse didn’t pull like he can, but he was a bit tricky to drive – that’s ‘Will’ for you, he keeps you working to keep him straight!”

Watch the race replay click here. 

Gusman said no decision had been made yet on whether the five-year-old would continue with his Tasmanian campaign or return home to Victoria.

“He’s a horse that likes you to work with him, rather than trying to stand over him.  Rohan is an exceptional driver and kind as well, so he’s paired up well with Will.  We’ll decide in the next couple of days but there’s the Easter Cup coming up and it’s a $75,000 race so leaving him in Tassie for that is definitely an option,” Gusman said.

“If he comes home, he might have a week or two off then at his class (NR 84) it’ll be either Melton every week, or potentially some country cups are definitely not out of the question.”

In the meantime, Gusman has plenty to keep her busy and enthusiastic about what’s ahead, almost all of which is courtesy of Hes Charlies Angel’s dam, Shes Norma Jeane (Art Major) who Gusman hopes will prove to be her foundation mare.

“I have Hes Charlies Angel’s two-year-old brother, a Captain Treacherous, not far off the runaround trials and his three-year-old half-sister Our Roku (Downbytheseaside), who won one last season,” she said.

“Another half-sister Clive’s Girl (Bettors Delight) is four and she’s also due to come back into work.  As well as that, I have three yearlings, three weanlings and three foals coming this year, and they’re all from Shes Norma Jeane or her daughters (Lola Montez (American Ideal) and Shesalwaysdreaming (We Will See).

“Just about all of them are related, but I did also buy a Vincent filly from the sales, who’s a half-sister to Hammer Dan, and I bought a weanling from New Zealand that’s also from the same bloodline as Shes Norma Jeane.

“Everyone thinks I’m crazy but that’s okay!  I’ve got quite a few to keep me busy, but I am really looking forward to the next 12 months or two years.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink