Gogo Grace’s time to shine
Hall of Fame trainer says mare up for Bow Mistress Trophy
AUSTRALIAN Hall of Fame trainer Leon Macdonald knows what it takes to win Group races, so it stands to reason that punters will take notice of his mare Gogo Grace when she steps out in the Group 3 Bow Mistress Trophy over 1200m in Hobart on Friday.
Gogo Grace has won four and been placed five times from only 18 starts and while she hasn’t won a feature race Macdonald has always believed she was good enough to win black-type events.
“This mare has always shown above-average ability and while she will go into a race next Friday that will boast mares that have won a lot more races it is probably her immaturity that has cost her more wins,” Macdonald said.
“The mare is probably better over 1400 metres, but we haven’t raced her for a month and have kept her fresh so I’m sure she will be very competitive over 1200m.
“Provided she runs well we will keep her in Tasmania and go to the Vamos Stakes over 1400 metres two weeks later.”
Macdonald shares a training partnership with his sonin-law Andrew Gluyas.
Together they operate a successful business out of their stables at Morphettville in Adelaide.
Their stable foreman Yuichi Mori has been with the stable for eight of the 10 years he has lived in Australia.
Before relocating to Australia he spent 15 years working as a pre-trainer and horse breaker in Japan.
“I am very happy I made the decision to live in Australia and working for Leon and Andrew is fantastic,” Mori said.
“They have a very success- ful stable and it is good to be a part of that success.
“This is the first time I have been to Tasmania and from what I’ve seen so far it is a very nice place and the people here are very welcoming.”
Mori says Gogo Grace travelled well and has settled in at Jenny James’s Patherton Park Racing Stables at Seven Mile Beach.
“The stabling arrangements here are great because it is a very relaxed environment for the horses and both of ours took no time at all to settle in.”
Gogo Grace’s stablemate Pretty Punk is here to contest the Group 3 Hobart Cup over 2400m next Sunday.