Louies Girl the real deal

Southern harness racing filly Louies Girl (Lord Forbes) stamped herself as a strong candidate for this Sunday’s $110,000 G1 Ace of Diamonds when she beat most of her rivals in the Diamond at Addington last night.

The diminutive daughter of Live Or Die stallion Lord Forbes settled third last in the outside running line. Halfway round the final bend trainer driver Craig Ferguson eased her out three wide to make her run. As the field rolled out of the turn her little legs were flying.

“She got a bit lost around the bend and wanted to run in a wee bit but it was her first time around Addington and that last bend can be a bit tricky,” Ferguson said.

Once he balanced her, Louies Girl powered home down the centre of the track to score by three quarters of a length from Treacherous Baby.

“She did it fairly easily in the end.”

Originally trained by her breeder/owner Gavin Forbes, Louies Girl was transferred to the Ferguson barn halfway through the season.

“Gav had her in the early days, raced her in a couple of nice races like the Kindergarten and she went some handy races. We thought when we got her that if we could work her in company she would do a bit of a job, so I wasn’t overly surprised last night.”

The colours worn by Louies Girl are those of her owners and it was the first time they’d won a race at Addington. Lord Forbes raced in the same colours and ran eleventh in the 2011 New Zealand Cup, won by Monkey King.

Louies Girl is out of Dream Angel, a full sister to One Dream, the winner of eighteen and $804,944. Forbes bought the mare from local breeder Murray Little.

As a sire Lord Forbes has four registered foals and the two that are of racing age have been winners – three year old Huki Fella and Louies Girl.

“She’s a lovely wee horse and one of my favourites because she’s so relaxed and casual. When you ask her to go she gives you an effort every time. When you wake her up she’s got plenty of speed.”

Louies Girl will now take her place in Sunday’s Ace of Diamonds.

“I can’t see the field being any different. It was a preferential draw last night which it won’t be on Sunday. If we can get a good draw, she’s got gate speed and high speed at the finish, so you’ve got to think that she’ll be a pretty good hope on Sunday.”

Louies Girl has been staying at Regan Todd’s Yaldhurst barn and Ferguson says for a horse having her first trip away she’s settled in really well.

“The beauty of being at Regan’s is that it’s such a nice property and he bends over backwards to make sure we have everything we need. She’s really thrived on the trip.”

The win continues Ferguson marvellous season. From eighty one starters he’s won thirty two races and had twenty five minor placings.

“The teams going really well and I’m lucky enough to have a team of nice horses and wonderful people around me. I can be up here knowing that everything at home is being done to a high standard.”

The run of Wag Star (Sweet Lou) last night in the Ian Dodson Memorial also pleased Ferguson. The three year old finished fifth and fronts up in Sunday’s $250,000 G1 Garrards New Zealand Pacing Derby.

“He’s better over distance and likes to be out and rolling. He probably got held up a couple of times last night when he needed to be out and rolling but Mark (Hurrell) was happy with the run and thought he hit the line well. It looked to me after the race that he needed the run which isn’t a bad thing considering The Derby is next week.”

The Wyndham trainer also has Smokin Bandar down to start in the Livamol New Zealand Trotting Free For All on Sunday and he says the grey trotter is in good shape going into the G1 $110,000 feature.

“It’s the happiest I’ve been with him at any stage of his career. Normally he has a couple of runs and with the hard tracks gets a couple of niggly wee issues. This time Regan’s got his track absolutely superb and I’ve been able to work him how I’ve wanted to work him.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink