Con Grazia Love ready for Group One again

Tamahere harness racing trainer Sean McCaffrey reckons he’s got trotting mare Con Grazia Love (Love You) back in a good place, having experienced a horror year last season.

After winning the Group One New Zealand Trotting Oaks in November 2022 it took her nineteen months to win another race.

“We had a nightmare of a year. She’d go a good race, then average before going good again. We were stumbling along trying to cure duodenal ulcers. We got onto a couple of things to work through it and things came right. We’re really happy with her this preparation,” McCaffery said.

“There was nothing structurally wrong with her, it was just gastric and that affected how you could race her,” he added.

McCaffrey said going into tomorrow nights $100,000 Group One TAB Queen Of Diamonds Con Grazia Love is carrying a lot more condition than previously.

“When the details of this race first came out I thought that would be the first race you would target if you didn’t go to the South Island. Then you’ve got the Golden Gait the following week so we can’t complain. She’s thriving and you can aim her at the targets you want.”

At her last start at Alexandra Park Con Grazia Love trotted home powerfully to win from a brave Iron Love.

“I think she’s improved from her last start and we’re ready for action.”

Con Grazia Love has fashioned a good record at Alexandra Park winning twice there and she’s been placed another five times. Although McCaffrey is happy with the inside front row draw he’s not happy about how standing starts are being managed.

“They call them standing starts but they’re a disgrace to the public. Half the horses are running, and half are standing still. What really annoys you is that you teach your horse to do the right thing, stand on the line, step off and get away quick, but there’s a trend for trainers to put their horses on the unruly so they can turn them around, run at the tape and they’re off. You would say the ones that should be at a disadvantage are the ones that can’t do what they’re supposed to do.”

McCaffery says he can see the day when all races will be run from the mobile.

“Yes. We can’t live in the 1950s forever. I’ve campaigned that every horse race in the North Island should be a mobile.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink