Soap Opera back in tune

A brilliantly composed harness racing drive from young gun reinsman Angus Garrard enabled Queensland filly Soap Opera (Warrawee Needy) to prevail in the $100,000 Group 2 NSW Breeders Challenge (3YO Fillies) Final at Menangle. 

Sent out a $2.40 favorite, Soap Opera was caught wide from her extreme draw and Garrard opted to ease the Darren Weeks prepared filly out to the tail of the field. 

Soap Opera was still a clear last on the home turn before Garrard pulled out to the extreme outside of the track and the filly produced a withering finale to grab victory on the line by a head from Aromet Girl in a mile rate of 1:53.3. 

The 21-year-old Garrard admitted he was taken aback with the burst of speed the winner produced down the home stretch. 

“She was enormous and didn’t have any right to finish off the way she did- it’s good to see her at her best,” Garrard said. 

SOAP OPERA REPLAY

Garrard was relieved Soap Opera returned to her best following a patchy winter. 

“She has done a good job the whole way through, she just had a setback earlier in the year around Oaks time and it probably set her season back a little but it’s good to see her back to her best,” he said.  

“She has got a bit of a funny way of going but she’s got a great motor,” she said. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink