Eye to Keep Smiling on

CHAMPION mare Eye Keep Smiling will race on for another season.

Fresh from a remarkable third successive win in the Group 1 Golden Girl at Albion Park last Saturday night, owner-breeder Jackie Gibson confirmed the plans.

Now doubt the lure of topping $1 million in prize money is a factor, too. Eye Keep Smiling latest Group 1 win took her bankroll to $958,588.

“Eye Keep Smiling, or Louise as we call her, will stay up in Queensland for the immediate future to compete in some of the mares’ races on offer,” Gibson said.

“There’s not a lot of suitable racing for her back at Menangle.

“She will then return home for a break and, hopefully, a successful embryo transfer flush in late September/October. So, basically a repeat of this season (the flush wasn’t successful last year).

“Luke (McCarthy, trainer-driver) is delighted with her and we have decided while she is fit, healthy and winning we will press on (racing her).

“Not to mention the immense joy she brings me watching her on the track.”

Eye Keep Smiling has raced just 49 times for 30 wins and 11 placings.

She is already a mother with a previous embryo transfer resulting in Bettors Delight colt.

The colt sold for $140,000 at the Nutrien Sydney sale earlier this year and is in pre-training at Cran and Chrissie Dalgety’s Kentuckiana Lodge in Christchurch.

 

by Adam Hamilton for Harness Racing Australia