Pat ready for big Breeders Crown

Pat Conroy, the matriarch of one of Australia’s best known trotting families, is making a rare visit to the harness racing at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night (Nov. 19).

She going to watch one of her favourites, ‘Connie’, step out in Group 1 company on one of the biggest race nights of the year, with Constant (Bacardi Lindy) to line up in the $80,000 Woodlands Stud Australian Breeders Crown final for three-year-old trotting fillies.

Pat’s daughter Anne-Marie Conroy, who trains and drives Constant, says there is a real excitement in the air at home in Daylesford about the upcoming assignment.

“Mum’s telling everyone about Connie,” she said. “She’s so proud of her.”

This will be Constant’s second start in a Group 1, having finished fifth in the Australasian Premier Trotting Sale final earlier in the season.

However, Pat Conroy missed out of being there that night, so this is a special outing.

It hasn’t been an easy road for the Conroys with Constant, which adds to the satisfaction of getting her into the race.

“Mum selected her from the catalogue because she was by Bacardi Lindy and out of a Safely Kept mare – the same as Margaret Ruth,” Anne-Maree said.

”It’s a cross Mum likes and Dad (the late Bob Conroy) was always keen on Bacardi Lindy. We managed to get her relatively cheaply.”

Anne-Maree was initially hopeful Constant might make a two-year-old.

“I really liked her, but it took a a while to get her score up properly and qualify,” she said, after a cut to her leg restricted her to one start.

“That was disappointing and then as a three-year-old she started hanging. I’d take her to the races and be sure people would be asking themselves why don’t we straighten her up.”

Conroy said she tried all sorts of gear on her, but when she was straightened she would gallop, so it was decided to allow her to hang.

She said improvement came when they started working her at home on the morning of the race and then gave her an early warm-up at the track.

“She’s been a handful, but she’s showing a bit.”

Constant is of one three runners in the final out of the draw and she starts on the outside of the second row.

New Zealander Aldebaran Keepa is favourite after stringing together four wins on end, with the well drawn duo of Courmayeur and Revelstoke also given strong chances.

The final is the opening race on a 10-event card, which features eight Group 1 Breeders Crown finals for two-year-old and three-year-old pacers and trotters.

For complete race entries, click here.

by David Brehaut, for The Trots