STAR Tasmanian harness racing mare Shez Ryleymak ended her racing career the best way possible with a sensational win on her home track at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston last Sunday night.
The Rohan Hillier-trained and owned mare produced a barnstorming finish coming from last on the turn to edge out race leader Aapennon in the shadows of the post.
When Beaconsfield-based trainer Rohan Hillier and his wife Katrina bought Shez Ryleymak at the Australian Pacing Gold sale in Victoria as a yearling for a modest $5000 he hoped she would win a couple of two-year-old races and at least pay her way.
Instead the now six-year-old mare won eight of her 10 starts as a two-year-old that included a $100,000 Group 1 event in Victoria and the following year she almost repeated the dose interstate but dominated on home soil winning the Tasmanian Oaks and the $20,000 Princess of Pace along with four class races at home.
“Not even in my wildest dreams did I ever think this mare would do what she did as a two and three-year-old,” Hillier said.
“She continued to be competitive at the top level at four and there is no doubt that her stake earnings of over $270,000 have been life changing for my family.”
“She’s not only been good for my family but she’s also been great ambassador for Tasmanian harness racing,” he said.
Shez Ryleymak is already in foal to top stallion Art Major so her career as a broodmare is well under way.
“The mare is 70 days into the pregnancy and is already starting to show she is in foal so irrespective of how she ran last Sunday night she would have been retired from racing,” Hillier said.
Shez Ryleymak (Totally Western-Rosary) showed great potential from the outset winning at her first four outings that included the Belmont final at Devonport.
She won the $25,000 Betfair Sweepstakes final after which she was taken to Victoria to tackle the Vicbred series and victory in the $100,000 Group 1 final ensured she was named Tasmania’s two-year-old of the year but it also earned her the Horse of the Year title.
She performed so well the following season that she was voted the state’s best in that age group but she again named Tasmanian Horse of the Year, a feat that might not be equaled.
Hillier has been forced to carefully manage the mare’s racing career this past year owing to an injury she sustained when campaigning in Victoria.
But despite the setback, Shez Ryleymak won three in success at home and in March-April last year she ventured back to Victoria for three runs that ended with a brilliant win in an M0 at Tabcorp Park Melton with Kerryn Manning in the sulky.
Hillier said he is unsure of what to do with Shez Ryleymak’s first foal.
“I guess Katrina and I will assess what the foal is like before deciding whether or not to put it through the sale ring – only time will tell.” he said.