Penny Black’s gritty win in Breeders Mares

Grand mare Penny Black (Sweet Lou) showed her class with a near all the way harness racing win in the Group 3 $50,000 WASBA Breeders Plate for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The well supported Wonderful To Fly as expected from the pole draw was able to keep the early lead and Penny Black was caught outside leader. From the second row Chris Lewis on Little Darling was able to work up to the one out and one back trail and Alta Allure also from the second row got up along the inside to trail the leader.

But it was a decision by Emily Suvaljko on Penny Black that ultimately proved to be the winning factor.

With just under two laps left to travel she drove Penny Black to the lead with Shane Young on Wonderful To Fly electing to take the trail. This left Little Darling to race outside the leader but she still looked to be travelling well within herself as they went into the final lap.

PENNY BLACK MAY 9 REPLAY

Suvaljko released the brakes on Penny Black to run her last two quarters in 27.4 and 27.6 seconds although Little Darling continued to press away and she almost joined the lead on the final bend.

However Penny Black responded to Suvaljko’s urging and she came away to score by just under two metres from Little Darling with Nullabor Navajo who enjoyed a good trail battling on for third. But Penny Black fully deserved her win, she had done some work to take the lead and in running her last half in 55.1 seconds indicated just how good she is on her night.

Trained by Michael Young Since coming from New Zealand a year ago Penny Black has raced in the West on 19 occasions for ten wins and four placings and over $204,000 in prize money.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink