Number Thirty-Seven!

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“Some above average fillies engaged here with the pick of them being the widely drawn, but in-form LIVIA DEGEROLSTEIN (7). She was doing her best work late for a narrow 2nd to Scottish Glamour at Tabcorp Pk 8 days ago and is sure to be pelting home once more with a bit of luck from the wide draw. IT TAKES COURAGE (3) is the likely leader and will give you a sight over the short course. CALANDA GIRL LOMBO (1) is now back in the draw and will be dangerous in this with a cheap run on the pegs. MY NANNA FAYE (5), MONDAYITIS (6), LIFE SAVINGS (8) and the Jayne Davies-prepared debutante SAMANTHA SPARKLE (4), a daughter of Bettors Delight who has trialled ok in the lead-up to this are all in with a shot..”

So spoke the Way2Bet website – Aussie racing’s best (well, only, really) form guide - of last night’s last race at Yarra Valley …
Flattering, but we do hate being made favourite.
Well, we had our wish. She didn’t go out favourite. Somebody (probably the commentator, who seemed obsessed by her) plunged on Samantha Sparkle. who went out at a bit better than even money. Livia was 3-1.
Well, the commentator was wrong with his tipping and Way2Bet (as frequently) was right.
Livia dropped to the rear, from her outside draw, got interfered with by an ill-gaited out-the-back horse called Mondayitis, and Graeme decided ‘better get out of here’. He pulled Livia three wide and midfield ... and there she sat for a whole exhausting lap. Could she do that and run on?
Oh, yes. Into the straight and the bright red nose roll flashed as she pulled out her trademark home-run sprint, duly – as Way2Bet had it -- pelting past the pacemaker, It Takes Courage, 50m out, for a narrow, but comfortable victory. Much to the discomfort of the commentator who hopefully called Samantha Sparkle in first (she was an OK 3rd after having the trail all the way!), and much to the delight of her owners, watching on telly, thanks to NZ Trackside, on the other side of the Tasman. And she even tickled the famous 2 minute-mile (2.00.9), in spite of running about 50m extra, thanks to her wide berth in transit. Phew! What a wee dazzler.

So, I got my win number 37, and the way things are going I very well may make it to the fabled 40 in 2011. Which will be a decided help in my cure .. I slept like a babe, after the race (Interdominion Final? What Interdominion Final?) and awoke with altogether less aches and pains. A win a week would be just what the doctor, literally, ordered!

PS No photo. Yet. Tracking down the Victorian race photographers is trickier than mailing NZ Race Images. But I’ll keep trying!
In the meanwhile here is our wee girl with Kim, who visited her while in Victoria.