Roll With Tricky lives up to favourite status

"It was a nice draw and I wasn't too convinced about the 1980 metres but she went good," was how trainer and reinsman Sam Ison summed up the win of the five-year-old Roll With Joe mare.

The two barrier was certainly to Roll With Tricky's liking, with her heading straight to the lead. She was joined by Always A Lexus (Madi Young) from the five barrier, who took up running outside of Roll With Tricky.

"Always A Lexus was eyeballing us all the way but my mare kept going and didn't care," Ison said.

With Always A Lexus kicking just ahead of Roll With Tricky by half a length as the pair raced out of the back straight on the final occasion, Roll With Tricky was prepared to take the challenge to Always A Lexus.

"I tried to stay there and she didn't give up – she kicked again," said Ison of Roll With Tricky, who dominated down the home straight to come away for a metre win over last-start winner Whoseashadylady (Stacey Weidemann).

Maghera Maggie (Anthony Varga) was another two metres away in third place.

She then headed to Dubbo for that final on May 24 – where she finished second, beaten by six metres by Rocknroll Dude.

"If we could have got out earlier in that Dubbo race, it would have been good. But we got stuck in a pocket and had to chase to the line, but we were happy with her run," Ison said.

Roll With Tricky is raced by Ison's partner Naomi Newman.

"As an owner I think Naomi is pleased – she does a lot of work with the horse as well," Ison said.

By Julie Maughan

Reprinted with permission of The Northern Daily Leader