Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Seven-year-old mare Sheez Our Hope has suffered a perennial problem with tender feet, and this has seriously restricted her racing career. But tender care has rewarded Pinjarra trainer Mike Cornwall with successes on the racetrack.
The use of frog pads on her front feet have acted as cushions and enabled her to race without discomfort.
“She is not suited to the hard tracks, and I can’t give her a lot of work because of her feet,” said Cornwall after Chris Lewis had driven Sheez Our Hope to a convincing victory in the Direct Trade Supply Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Sheez Our Hope, the $2.50 favourite from barrier four, relished her pacemaking role to win by a length from the fast-finishing $8 chance Cordero. She sprinted over the final 400m in 27.9sec. and rated 1.57.7.
“That was a good effort, considering the fast lead time (35.7sec.),” said Cornwall, who races the Alta Christiano gelding in partnership with his wife Kerry. He has no regrets at outlaying $4000 to buy Sheez Our Hope as an unraced three-year-old. Sheez Our Hope now has raced 33 times for eleven wins and eight placings for earnings of $136,915.
“Chris said that she had a fair bit left at the finish, and I may be a bit ambitious in hoping she will get a run in the big events for mares later this year,” said Cornwall. After those races in November, if she gets a start, I plan to put her to stud. Her dam Easton Swift (52 starts for 13 wins, 12 placings and $123,391) was a good horse.”