Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
A succession of unfavourable barriers resulted in Run For Mercy managing just two third placings from her ten starts since winning the 1140m Dash For Cash at Bunbury early last May — and then a handy draw at barrier three was a major factor in her breakthrough victory in the 1730m Trotsynd Syndication Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Run For Mercy, a $12.50 chance, was beaten for early pace by Woodlea Ragnar, Mea Culpa and Heza Chance, and Chris Voak was happy to take the sit in the advantageous one-out, one-back position, following Mea Culpa, who was racing on the outside of the $1.32 favourite Armed Reactor, who had settled five lengths from the early leader before dashing forward to take up the running with 1200m to travel.
Voak switched Run For Mercy three wide 270m from home and the mare ran home strongly to get up and win in a tight three-way photo finish, beating $14 chance Mea Culpa by a head, with Armed Reactor a half-head away in third place.
“Run For Mercy was very tenacious and under hard driving she responded resiliently in the final 100 metres,” said Voak. “She is a better horse over the short course.”
Run For Mercy is trained by Jemma Hayman and the win took her record to 68 starts for 11 wins and 20 placings for stakes of $108,582. The victory completed a double for Voak, who had been successful earlier in the night with Disco Under Fire. Voak kept up the good work with another double at Albany on Saturday night when he scored with the Barry Howlett-trained pacers Sugarloaf ($1.50) and Just For Love ($1.45).