Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Inexperienced mare Sheza Sassy Lassy was the $1.90 favourite from barrier seven in the $21,000 BOTRA Past President Mike Reed Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and her supporters were dismayed when she galloped at the start and lost 50 metres.
Groans of disappointment were replaced with some sighs of hope when reinsman Ryan Bell quickly got Sheza Sassy Lassy back into a pacing gait and the four-year-old was able to tack on to the rest of the field of twelve but was still last with about 1200m to travel.
Sheza Sassy Lassy moved to ninth at the bell, following the three-wide runs of Heartofahlia ($4.40) and The Swindler ($9). Her winning prospects appeared remote when she was switched five wide by Bell with 500m to travel and with most of her rivals in front of her.
The Swindler took a narrow lead 220m from home, but she was swamped by Sheza Sassy Lassy, who burst to the front 120m from the post and won, quite remarkably, by two lengths, rating a modest 2.1.3.
Bell explained that it wasn’t the fault of Sheza Sassy Lassy that she broke into a gallop at the start. “The off-side hopple shortening pin came out in the score-up and as I lent down in an attempt to release the other pin right on release point, she panicked a bit and broke,” said Bell.
Sheza Sassy Lassy was bred and is owned by Gloucester Park’s head track curator Michael Daniel Blakemore and his mother Maryanne Dorothy Blakemore. The four-year-old is by former star pacer Vincent.
“We bought Sheza Sassy Lassy’s dam Miss Tivoli (by American Ideal) as a weanling at home in Auckland, and after she had been unplaced at three appearances in New Zealand I brought her over when I came to settle in Western Australia,” said Blakemore, who has enjoyed good success in the past few years with Goodealhmaddie (seven wins), Tommy Cruise (six) and Cullen Star (five).
Miss Tivoli, trained and driven by Blakemore, raced 18 times in WA for wins at Northam, Narrogin and Wagin before she broke down and had to be retired.
The 31-year-old Blakemore has high hopes that Sheza Sassy Lassy will develop into a good winner. The mare is still learning all about racing, having had just eight starts for four wins, two placings and earning $30,753.