Charlie and Angus Davis were happy with their Grandfather, Mark’s win
It has been a week of ups and downs for Harden trainers, owners and horses, with Single Gaze, part owned by Redbank North taking a tumble at Randwick on Saturday injured its jockey, Kathy O’Hara. Single Gaze was competing in the Group 1 Australian Oaks. Other trainers and owners tasted success in Holbrook, Cootamundra and Geelong. Former Harden trainer Chris Heywood took out three races at Holbrook with Divine Day ($3.00) in Race 2 and More Spur ($4.25) in Race 4, both ridden by jockey Lilly Coombe. In the feature race, the Holbrook Cup, his son Nick rode Imperious ($5.00) to victory. Nick also rode De Belin ($4.25) to victory in the very next race for trainer Peter Clancy.
Trainer Mark Cummins had a good win in Race 2 1,000m Trophy Race at Cootamundra with Living Fire ($3.00). The horse has won four out of its last five starts, and is owned by Mark, Mick Terry, Zac Leitner and Troy James. Mark will be racing Sergeant Bilko at Grenfell this weekend, a horse that has had two wins and two second places in its last four starts. “If he runs to form, we’ll know he’s there,” said Mark about Sergeant Bilko. “It will be very competitive, it’s a good field. It should run a good pace.”
The Shea family have also continued their success in Victoria, with Michael, Judy & Rebecca’s newest acquisition, Grand Dreamer ($2.63), taking out Race 8 at Geelong on Tuesday. Grand Dreamer is bred from Grand Reve x Dream Lady (Testa Rossa), and came second in its previous start at Sandown on March 28th.
At the Australian Oaks in Randwick on Saturday, Single Gaze fell to the deck after the horse Happy Hannah was forced into its path. The jockey, Kathy O’Hara, was hospitalised as a result of the fall and underwent surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital to treat a broken collarbone, broken ribs and a punctured lung. The horse itself suffered lacerations to its hind legs and minor bruising.
