Penny Black blooming in Perth

New Zealand-bred mare Penny Black (NZ) (Sweet Lou) added to her burgeoning harness racing record when victorious in the Listed Race For The Roses (2503m) at Gloucester Park last Friday night.

The five-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou began well from her 30m mark but broke shortly after, however, she was quickly able to regather herself and tack onto the rear of the field behind Water Lou.

The Michael Young-trained mare found herself in the coveted one-one position when Water Lou looped the field to take the lead, and driver Gary Hall Jnr gave Penny Black an economical passage before asking her to improve three-wide when heading into the back straight for the final time. Penny Black quickly found herself eyeballing the leader and hit the lead turning for home, and she continued to extend her advantage, running out a comfortable victor over Chilli Punter.

Gary Hall Jnr was pleased with Penny Black’s performance and was delighted to see her return to winning form after running fourth in the Listed Dr Ed Dewar Golden Girls Mile (1684m) at Pinjarra last start.

“She got away really well and the two dangers got into a bit of trouble, so my eyes lit up and I drove her like she had 100 stands,” Hall said. “It probably worked out to her benefit really because Water Lou got in front of her and had to keep the front. This wind out here is pretty crazy and they were just going way too fast early and we ended up getting what was the best run in the race.

“She did what we expected her to do under the circumstances, but it is always nice to see them bounce back with a win after her last start defeat.”

Penny Black hails from the famed Black Watch family, with her dam, Tessa Rocks, being a full-sister to Group Three winner Crystal Sparkles.

She was offered through Dunvegan Lodge’s 2021 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft at Christchurch where she was passed in after failing to reach her $10,000 reserve.

She was subsequently entrusted to the care of Pukekohe trainer Jeremy Young before being sold to her current ownership group following her maiden win at Alexandra Park in December, 2023.

She made an instant impact in Western Australia, winning her first six starts, and she has continued to go from strength-to-strength.

Penny Black has been in a purple patch of form over the last few months, finishing runner-up in the Group Three Christmas Belles (2130m) before scoring her maiden stakes victory in the Group Three The Lombardo Fillies And Mares Pace (2536m), and doubled her stakes tally on Friday.

She has now won 11 and placed in six of her 23 career starts, and has earned more than A$170,000 in prizemoney.

From NZB Standardbred