Maiden success at start 87

Sharon Hahne can vividly remember when she’d sit at her mother Helen’s bedside in hospital and talk to her as she lay unconscious recovering from a stroke.

There were many topics she spoke about, but one of those was about a horse she’d just purchased and was ready to send to the races.

“Every day I used to go into Mum, into the hospital in intensive care, and just say to her: ‘you need to stay alive and see her run’,” Hahne said.

Thankfully, she beat the odds and has been able to follow the brown mare’s progress throughout a consistent, but winless career. That was until Wednesday night at Bendigo when everything finally fell into place.

Falling Shards, after 86 previous trips to the races and 15 runner-up placings, broke through with an all-the-way performance in the Equine After Care Maiden Pace (1650m).

Driven by Shannon O’Sullivan, the five-year-old was able to hold the lead after an early speed battle and then fend off all her rivals in the charge to the line to score by 2.7m.

“Mum hates the colour red. Unfortunately, I bought the cart and it was red and she just went ‘yuk’ when I brought it home,” Hahne recalled.

“And, of course, she drew number one (on Wednesday) and I just said: ‘the stars are aligning up, Mum’ because the red cart, red number, her saddle pad has always been red and her gear and stuff.

“And they did, so she was very happy… she’s beside herself.”

Hahne paid tribute to O’Sullivan, who made sure Falling Shards wasn’t going to get beaten as a result of her lazy habits.

“I said that you’ve just got to yell at her…,” Hahne said.

“I didn’t think such a big voice could come from a small girl.

“I was over near the stables and I heard her when she hit the top of the turn.”

The Wangaratta horsewoman, who is a carer for both her parents and only trains as a hobby, said Falling Shards had been a special horse to the family, especially her mother.

“She’s got to see her go around and I bought the horse for her basically,” Hahne said.

“There were months of rehabilitation after her stroke as she couldn’t speak or write and walked with a frame. I would take Mum with me to the track so she could sit and watch Falling Shards work. Like her horse, she is a trooper.

“She used to ride and after her stroke, she just can’t now. She had to sell her horse, get rid of all her stuff and that broke her heart.

“I’ve had many people try to buy Falling Shards. They obviously thought she had something there and I said no. She was earning me money every week and had given Mum and Dad the joy of watching her go around.”

A trip to the breeding barn has long been on the cards for Falling Shards, who is expected to continue racing in the short-term before heading to a suitable stallion in Shepparton to commence the next phase of her life.

WATCH FALLING SHARDS’ WIN BELOW: