In-form squaregaiter wins her third straight

Love is in the air for South Australia’s in-form harness racing squaregaiter So Vogue (Love You).

At Sunday’s (Aug 06) Globe Derby Park twilight meeting, So Vogue, trained by Luke O’Neill, won her third straight race when taking out the #Stepuptobreastcancer Trotters Handicap (2230m).

It was also the four-year-old mare’s fourth win from her past five starts, and her only failure was when she was knocked out of the race by an errant stablemate.

Beautifully driven on Sunday by Ryan Hryhorec, So Vogue ($4.40) travelled midfield early before being asked to take out after the leaders coming off the back straight past Norman’s Gate.

She trotted away to win easily by 15-1/2 metres from the heavily backed Balmoral Hall which had firmed from $13 to start the $3 favourite.

O’Neill had a simple explanation for the newly found consistency of So Vogue – she is in love.

“When I was training her earlier in the year, she was always on the move in her yard and not really a happy horse,” O’Neill said.

“By chance, I put another of the trotters, Atout, in with her, and suddenly, she became a happy horse.

“So the two mates are together all day, and now So Vogue is keeping all her energy for the track.”

SO VOGUE REPLAY

The mare was bred and is owned by prominent harness identity Michael Taylor, and as such is eligible for the upcoming Vicbred series later in the year.

O’Neill said there had been discussion So Vogue would return to Melbourne to compete in the rich stakemoney series.

“She would have to go to another trainer because I wouldn’t have the time to take her across,” O’Neill said.

“But I’m not sure how happy she would be without her mate.”

Murray Bridge trainer Alan Cronin admitted to being frustrated with his five-year-old pacer Reign Shadow which returned to the winning list in the Bianco Reinforcing Pace (1800m).

Dashingly driven by Michael Smith, Reign Shadow ($7) led for most of the race scoring by 1-1/2 metres from Giftedfromtheheart ($14), with My Golden Eagle ($4.80) a half-metre away third.

My Golden Eagle flew out from gate five for trainer-driver Samantha Pascoe, and Smith, on Reign Shadow, sensing the lead might be available, went forward and found the front.

Cronin said Reign Shadow was a “problem child.”

“He has issues and sometimes just doesn’t do his best,” Cronin said.

“Whether he feels pain or not is something I don’t know but he is very hard to keep going into a preparation. That is why tonight was just his 24th race start.

“Michael (Smith) said he had had enough on the home turn but did enough to hold on. He did say the horse couldn’t have won had he gone back from the draw.”

Cronin said Reign Shadow was part-owned by Janice, Rob and Tim Blair who watched the race on Sky Channel from the warmth of their Queensland rather than the cool surrounds of Globe Derby Park.

He said the Blairs had previously owned horses with legendary trainer Lance Justice when he was based in South Australia.

For complete race results, click here.

by HRSA Media