Sister Patrick repays the love with Emerging Stars triumph

Exciting trotter Sister Patrick is starting to repay the care and love of Wasleys trainer Claire Goble.

In a perfectly named race at Globe Derby Park on Saturday, Sister Patrick ($5 into $4) finished best to grab a photo-finish head victory from Reoffender ($2.20 fav) with Military Merit ($11), 7-1/2 metres away third in the Emerging Stars Trotters Series Final (2230m).

The four-year-old mare rated an outstanding 2:00.9 which compared very favourably with the track record of 1:59.6 recorded by Hammers Law four years ago on June 25.

Both the winner and runner-up are only four-year-olds with exciting careers ahead.

For Goble, who bred and part-owns Sister Patrick with Paul Rofe, it has been a costly exercise to get the mare to the track where she has now won five of her 12 starts.

It has cost the trainer about $25,000 in veterinary bills to see the mare racing.

The biggest outlay was $18,000 for treatment to Sister Patrick’s near side eye.

Goble said the mare had got something in the eye as a younger horse which has developed into a major problem.

“We were desperate to save her sight, but it proved costly and I think it contributed to her attitude about life in general,” Goble said.

“She is certainly unusual.

“I think it explains why she has a dislike of men.

“The vets attending to her were male and I think she associates males with pain.

“It has been a hard road to reach where she is today but one male she has come to trust, to a degree, is Corey (Johnson) who drives her.

“She also had a leg injury which took time and money to get right.”

On Saturday, Sister Patrick showed her class with a brilliant sprint to catch Reoffender who tasted defeat for only the second time in a nine-race career.

Sister Patrick has explosive speed which she showed to lead from gate three, but Johnson opted to allow Tranquill Bill ($6) to cross and lead.

Johnson explained he could have held the front if he wanted.

“Earlier in her career I tried to lead when we could as I knew she would find if challenged,” Johnson said.

“But with racing, she has matured and is happy to settle behind other runners because I know she has a brilliant sprint in the run home.

“When Reoffender put the leader away turning for home I was a bit worried we might not have enough time to catch him, but she sprinted strongly and we grabbed the win.”

Reoffender, a star two-year-old, was having just second run from 18 months away from racing through two bouts of ulcers and a leg injury.

The four-year-old was responsible for injuring co-trainer Jill Neilson who is currently house-bound with a fractured vertebrae and bulging disc.

Reinsman Wayne Hill drove the four-year-old brilliantly, but the gelding just could not hold off the brilliant sprint of Sister Patrick.

Hill landed Saturday wins at Globe Derby Park on the sensationally backed pair of The Reginator for trainer Heather Stevens and Don Capitano for Angle Vale mentor Dean Girardi.

The Reginator was backed from $2.25 into $1.55 favourite and was able to find the front from gate three to lead throughout in the Jojubi Saddlery Pace (1800m).

He scored easily by six metres from Road Star ($6) with Star Man ($7), 4-1/2 metres away third.

Trainer Heather Stevens said she unfortunately had to retire her star Maharajah who has suffered a second suspensory leg injury.

A winner of a Port Pirie and Strathalbyn Cups during his 15-win career, the gelding is part-owned by farmer Gary McGinty who has purchased My Silver Spoon from Western Australia to replace Maharajah in Steven’s stable.

Don Capitano was backed from $2.35 into $1.35 favourite in the Hahn Super Dry Pace (2230m) and also found the front for Hill from gate three and dictated terms throughout.

The four-year-old scored by four metres from Vatican Green ($6.50) with Miss Out ($8) a head away third.

Trainer Dean Girardi is having a career-best season and currently sits second on the SA Trainers premiership with 29 wins.

Port Pirie trainer Trent Hoare is having a fabulous run with nine-year-old After The Chase which won his fourth straight race with a brilliant finish in the Bianco Reinforcing Pace (1800m).

It was also his fifth win from his past six starts.

After The Chase ($3.20 fav), driven by Michael Smith, sprinted strongly to win by a two metres from Neds Beach ($4) with Love To Deal ($31), 3-1/2 metres away third.