Harness racing: Raklou announces she's back to her best
“It is good to get her back, she had a rough season last year and it is good to get her back to where she can be."
Jonny Turner is a Southland-based racing journalist. For more of Turner’s content head to the Southern Harness News with Jonny Turner Facebook page.
Southland owner Brendan Fahy’s horses have found their best form at the best possible time.
On Monday, Fahy got the thrill of seeing his star three-year-old Dreams Are Free break the national three-year-old record for 1700m with his effortless win at Ashburton on Labour Day.
On Friday, it was Raklou who announced she was back to her best when she cleared out for a dominant win at Winton.
After bursting onto the scene as a two-year-old, Raklou couldn’t hold her form as an early three-year-old during a frustrating period for Fahy and trainer-driver Peter Hunter.
All signs have pointed towards the filly putting those niggles behind her this spring, which she proved in the best possible fashion at Winton.
“It is good to get her back, she had a rough season last year and it is good to get her back to where she can be,” Hunter said.
“It was a bit like long covid in human terms, you would think you had her right and she would get sick again.”
“Then you would get her right and she would get sick again, so with Brendan we gave her a good spell.”
Already a Group race winner in Canterbury, Raklou has earnt another trip north to the New Zealand Cup Carnival with her Winton victory.
“I was in two minds about whether to go to Ashburton last week,” Hunter said.
“I thought she would need another week or two down here.”
“But I think with the way she went today she deserves to go north now.”
Fahy already has a more than handy New Zealand Cup week runner in Dreams Are Free who will start in the $500,000 The Velocity slot race on Show Day.
The three-year-old put two plain performances to start his spring behind him with his brilliant victory in the Listed Sires Stakes Classique.
Trainer-driver Nathan Williamson has been thrilled with the way the southern star has recovered from his Ashburton outing, which is likely to be his last public appearance before The Velocity.
“He was back to his best, it was great and he did it with a wee bit in hand,” Williamson said.
“He has pulled up great and he’s never left any feed, he is really eating well.”
“He seems very bright and well, he’s travelled home and I couldn’t be happier with him.”
“I think we will probably go to the slot race now and I don’t think we will give him a trial or anything in between.”
Fahy races Dreams Are Free with the Dreams Are Free Syndicate, who are now counting down to having their pride and joy race for half a million dollars in just over two weeks time.