Penny Black strikes again

Tough mare Penny Black (Sweet Lou) laid claim to currently being the best harness racing mare in Western Australia when she showed great resilience taking out the Group Westside Auto Wholesale Lombardo Pace for mares on Friday evening at Gloucester Park.

The six year old mare had resumed in fine style the week before and in the Lombardo where she was up against mares company she was installed a short priced favourite.

There was some support for Hunger Strike and Little Darling.

PENNY BLACK 6 MAR REPLAY

Sugar Delight commenced brilliantly to cross Hunger Strike who ended up taking the trail behind the leader. Emily Suvaljko allowed Penny Black to balance early despite being three wide before she went up to race outside the leader.

It was typical Penny Black having to do the work with her main dangers Hunger Strike and Alta Allure right behind and poised to strike.

Little Darling made a run three wide at the bell but even there would be no chance that Penny Black would give away the outside at that stage of the event.

Penny Black drew clear on straightening but she had to stall off a late challenge from Alta Allure. However she demonstrated her class in holding out Alta Allure by just over a metre with Madam Publisher coming from the rear of the field to finish an eye catching third. Penny Black rated 1.55.6 for the 2130 metre trip.

In winning Penny Black made it two successive wins in the Lombardo following her success a year ago.

Driver Emily Suvaljko was complimentary in her praise of Penny Black.

She’s just so tough. She’s big and powerful and has a really big heart as well. Voak (on the leader Sugar Delight) was trying to set it. We were running along. She’s just an incredible horse to drive.

I was probably worried about leader’s back and the one on my back as well.  But I knew she’s be fitter this week than she was last week. And she didn’t peak half way up the straight like she did last week. So she’s definitely come on from that run.

There’ll be no shortage of local mares races for Penny Black to take on in the coming months. And if she continues that form for trainer Michael Young it’s hard to see her getting beaten especially if she drawn on the front line.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink