CLASSY harness racing mare benediction will soon be retired to stud and if she never races again she will have left the scene on a winning note.
Benediction scored a game win when she proved too string for her rivals in the $10,000 Doug Martin Danbury Park Cup at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston last Sunday night.
“She’s not in foal yet but that’s the intention,” said the mare’s part-owner and trainer Barrie Rattray.
Benediction has started 48 times for 18 wins and 17 minor placings for almost $140,000 in stakes of which nearly al has been won in Tasmania.
The mare had a short stint interstate without success.
“She’s had a couple of flat spots during her racing career but we’ve changed things around and she’s always responded like the good horse we think she is,” Rattray said.
Last Sunday she was driven superbly by the trainer’s son Gareth Rattray who has won the past seven driver premierships.
He had Benediction settled in the one-out-one-back position from her 10-metre handicap and when he eased her out to challenge 500m from home she quickly went to the leaders and hit the front at the top of the home straight.
The mare then staved off late bids from minor placegetters Gambler’s Rustler and Land Of Panaarm.