Fear Gogh breaks maiden

Irwell trainers Peter and Mitchell Robertson clocked up 866 kms in the past four days, carting just one horse. But Fear Gogh’s (Vincent) win today at Oamaru proved it was well worth the effort.

The mare raced at Kaikoura on Sunday but broke a spreader and was pulled out of the race.

“She’d only run half a race at Kaikoura so we weren’t too worried about backing her up,” Mitchell said.

Driver Sam Thornley powered up Fear Gogh early and she easily made it across to the front from barrier five.

“It was good to see Sam take the bull by the horns and lead up on her because she does have a bit of gate speed.”

Thornley kept the pace on and the four year old went down to the line to win easily by four lengths from favourite Iamthecaptainnow.

FEAR GOGH REPLAY

Her maiden win came at start forty three.

“If she’d had forty odd starts with nothing in the bank I’m sure she would have been finished by now. We put the blinds on her today and it was only the second time she’s had them on. We tried them at Kaikoura but obviously she didn’t get a fair shot at them. She has a one arm spreader that broke at Kaikoura and she also wears a pole but she broke that before the start today and never wore it.”

Prior to today’s win Fear Gogh had run nine seconds; one within a head of the winner and two within half a neck and Mitchell says she’s not finished yet.

“I’d like to think the rise in grade won’t bother her too much because she can follow speed.”

The Robertsons bought the grandam of Fear Gogh, Fearless Freda, at an All Aged Mixed Sale.

“Cran Dalgety trained her and she won a Sales Series race as a two year old. Her first foal for us was Fear Flying which we won three races with. Her second foal was a nice horse called Fear Crusin who won a couple of races and we sold for pretty big money to Australia.”

Fear Crusin won a further twenty races in Australia and earned over $200,000.

It’s a family steeped in history and included on the pedigree page are horses like Speedy Guest, Batchelor Star, Main Star and Main Adios. And more recently Bar Louie.

Fear Gogh’s win today elevates her into the top three for next month’s Harness 5000 $60,000. Listed race for four year old mares.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink