Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Consistent mare Run For Mercy will be set for the $50,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes on May 5 following her decisive victory in the 1730m Hoist Torque Australia Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The five-year-old gave Oakford trainer Jemma Hayman her first Friday night Gloucester Park double, following her win with Taking The Miki earlier in the program.
Run For Mercy is the first pacer bred by Hayman. She is by the American sire Pet Rock and is the first foal out of the Western Terror mare Arousing, who had 110 starts for 11 wins, 32 placings and $119,663.
Run For Mercy now has earned $122,284 from 12 wins and 22 placings from 79 starts. She is owned by Hayman and Mercedes Xin Yi Ng.
“Mercedes is my best friend,” said Hayman. “We studied together at vet school, and I gifted her ten per cent of the mare who I named Mercy for short after her.
“Run For Mercy is a most perfect horse, who doesn’t do a thing wrong. She has been racing since December in her current campaign and is showing no signs of slowing down.”
Run For Mercy, the $1.90 favourite, was driven patiently by Chris Voak and settled down in seventh position in the field of eight before she was switched three wide 700m from home and dashed to the front 300m later on her way to winning by just over two lengths from the pacemaker Bettorstartdreaming ($7). The winner rated 1.57.1, with final quarters of 29sec. and 28.8sec.