CANBERRA standardbred owner Mark Ellis plans to send his game nine-year-old mare Gracie Hart to the breeding barn this season but it might be put on hold if she continues to race in top form.
Gracie Hart returned to the winner’s circle in Hobart on Sunday night with an impressive victory in a C5-C6 over 2090 metres.
She started off the inside of the second row and trailed the leader Wingsofaneagle for most of the race.
When trainer-driver Grant Hodges guided her into a gap on the home turn the mare burst through and went on to score an effortless win over Harley Fella and Wingsofaneagle with Ramblin Cullen a luckless fourth.
It was Gracie Hart’s ninth career win and her first for the season. She won four and was placed five times last season and that’s when Ellis decided to make plans to send her to stud.
Wingsofaneagle showed terrific gate speed and had no trouble in fending off Harley Fella that attacked for the lead to the home turn the first time.
Harley Fella got the better of Wingsofaneagle about 100m out but he could not answer Gracie Hart’s powerful finish along the rails.
Gracie Hart will be covered by Art Major this season but Hodges believes the mare could have one or two more starts before going to stud.
Listen to what Grant Hodges ha to say about Gracie Hart – click here.