Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Seven-year-old mare My Prayer ended a losing sequence of 27 and a 20-month drought when she set the pace and held on to beat Medieval Man in the 2130m Cowden The Insurance Brokers Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Barry Howlett-trained mare, who wears spreaders to prevent her from striking her knees, appreciated a considerable drop in class and was a firm $1.70 favourite for ace reinsman Chris Voak, with the win providing him his 50TH success for the season.
It was also a happy reunion for Voak with My Prayer. He was handling her for the first time since he last drove her —47 starts earlier when she finished second to Mandy Joan at Gloucester Park on July 10, 2020.
Despite her lengthy losing sequence My Prayer has been a splendid performer for the Howlett family, having had 79 starts for nine wins, 20 placings and stakes of $187,556.
“She was very tenacious and did a very good job,” said Voak. “She survived some early pressure, and she ran 28.5sec. down the back. When I asked her to go, she held the opposition at bay.”
My Prayer is by Renaissance Man and is the seventh foal out of Mystery Oro, who managed one placing from eleven starts. My Prayer’s half-sister Lovers Prayer raced 77 times for ten wins, 26 placings and stakes of $78,195.