SUMMER RACING CARNIVAL

CLASSY Tasmanian mare Life on the Wire delivered one of her best performances to score an impressive win in the Group 3 $150,000 Vamos Stakes over 1400m in Launceston yesterday.

The Scott Brunton-trained four-year-old showed brilliant early speed to easily find the lead with Craig Newitt aboard and when he asked her for the big effort turning for home she released a brilliant turn of foot to power clear of her rivals.

Life on the Wire ($2.30) hit the line almost two lengths clear of her stablemate Step the Pedal ($14), with Gee Gees Top Notch ($7) a long head away third and only a length clear of outsider Manilenya ($101).

It was an amazing effort from the mare and was also a brilliant training feat by Brunton.

Life on the Wire was supposed to have raced in the Bow Mistress in Hobart on Febru- ary 9 as her main lead up to the Vamos, but the mare knocked her fetlock joint on the way to the races and suffered swelling in the joint forcing her withdrawal from the Bow Mistress.

Brunton then had to find a way to have her ready for her biggest assignment.

“I was almost going to tip her out but Dad [Dave Brunton] and I changed her training around and used the beach for a few days and I gave her a gallop last week and she pulled up great. And after another gallop this week I was confident she would be ready for the race,” Brunton said.

“I have no qualms in saying this horse is the best mare we’ve had since Lady Lynette and she was a champion.

“She’s had five starts for five wins this preparation and two of those were over this trip in Melbourne so she had already proven her class. But this win, given the circumstances, is quite amazing.”

To add more merit to the win Life on the Wire cast a shoe from her nearside hind hoof during the race. Newitt eased the tempo midrace and it was a winning move given the favourite Gogo Grace ($2.25) had been taken back to last by her rider Dean Yendall, who was not prepared to be left three-wide when he couldn’t slot into the one-out line.

But by the time Gogo Grace was put into the race the bird had flown and she had to settle for fifth place but almost 3½ lengths from the winner.

Gogo Grace’s co-trainer Leon Macdonald wasn’t happy after the race saying: “Let’s just say I’m far from pleased with the outcome.”