Eye Keep Smiling showed she was not just the best harness racing mare in this country, but one of the best we’ve seen in recent years.
The Luke-McCarthy trained and driven mare scored the strongest win of her career Saturday night’s $200,000 Queen Elizabeth II Mile, the highlight race of a big Pacing for Pink night with four Group 1s at Club Menangle.
Stuck three-wide in the early stages and racing without cover for the entire journey, Eye Keep Smiling just managed to hold off West Australian mare Steno (Jocelyn Young) to score by a head, with Victorian Rakero Rebel (Blake Fitzpatrick) third.
The winner rated 1:49 and even McCarthy was impressed by the power she showed in holding off a sensational field of mares.
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure if we had held on,” he said.
“She had such a hard run; she was there to be beaten tonight.
“But she just tries so hard and never gives up. She was awesome.”
Earlier, the 2300m John Gibson Memorial NSW Oaks was touted as the most open race of the night, and the $200,000 Group 1 didn’t disappoint.
In a race where the tactics told the story, master trainer-driver Grant Dixon and his ace filly Cool and Classy wore down Soho Americano (Luke McCarthy) in the straight to score a dashing win.
Early leader Sugar Pie Honey (Ash Delosa) battled on courageously for third.
The winner rated 1:54.2 over the 2300m journey and Dixon admitted the race had become a really tactical battle right from the outset.
“I was actually pretty happy to make my move going down the back,” Dixon said.
There was one major upset on the night when unbeaten trotter Keayang Zahara tasted defeat for the first time in 16 starts.
Taken straight to the front by Glen Craven, another Victorian visitor Susan is her Name took a trail on Keayang Zahara and wore her down in the straight for a stunning victory.
A couple of hours earlier, the first Group 1 of the night almost provided a fairytale finish.
Champion reinsman Luke McCarthy darted clear turning for home with Gatesys Gem in the $75,000 NSW Trotters Oaks and looked set for an easy victory.
Then Tracey the Jet emerged from the pack and came from well back to almost pull off an upset for trainer Jess Tubbs and reinsman Grant Dixon.
Tracey The Jet was only beaten a metre, with Iron Woman (Kate Gath) a distant third.
It was a night to remember as Club Menangle threw its support behind the second running of Pacing for Pink to support the McGrath Foundation.
