Look Dad, I can sit three wide…. and win

Saturday night at Menangle saw the fifteenth running of the Queen Elizabeth II Mile (Ladyship Mile) at the Menangle track.

There have been some remarkable harness racing wins by champion mares in the past – Make Mine Cullen in 2010, Frith in 2016, Stylish Memphis in 2021 and 2022 and of course Adore Me’s Australian record on a steamy hot afternoon in 2015.

Maybe one of these performances can compare with what the daughter of Always B Miki in Aardies Express achieved on Saturday night.

This year’s edition of the Queen Elizabeth II Mile has been touted as one of the best ever collection of fabulous females, headed by the millionaire Ladies In Red.

Aardies Express was simply awesome in having to race three wide for the entire journey and looked to be no chance as the field headed into the home straight.

She displayed the grit that was the trademark of her sire Always B Miki and stormed home for a memorable victory – her own final quarter run in 25.8 off the track.

Being parked three wide for the entire journey of a race, a Group One race at that, and still finishing in the money is only achieved by horses with rare ability.

AARDIES EXPRESS REPLAY

Her sire Always B Miki was one of those rare horses when he was parked three wide for the entire journey in the 2014 Meadowlands Pace Final. However, he could only finish second to Hes Watching in that World Record equaling time of 1.46.8.

Aardies Express was bred in New Zealand by Bromac Lodge (the Late Bob McArdle) and the Sydney based Slingsby Holdings (Lorraine Philpott).

She is the fifth foal of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Tatijana Bromac, but from there the Family reverts to one of the great Australian Families of the late 20th Century.

The successive dams are Tandias Courage (Stoneridge Scooter), Talk To Me (Whats Next), Chinde (Race Call) and then to Mozambique (Gay Reveler).

Mozambique was one of the three famous full sisters, Gay Acres and Gay Debutante were the other two, who produced between them a never-ending supply of stakes winners for the Newbound brothers Leo and Kevin.

Aardies Express now has a resume that reads 21 starts – 15 wins and $328,864 in prizemoney.

From Alabar Farms