Retirement nears for winner
Dual-gaited mare One Cool Chick gained a timely win at Gore yesterday as she nears the end of her racing career.
One Cool Chick led from the 1550m and had her rivals stretched turning for home in the South Gore Dairy Pace.
Nathan Williamson reined her clear for a comprehensive 81⁄ length win in a maiden event.
She was one of four winners at the meeting for Williamson, who also trained and drove Tas Man Bromac to finish second in the Group I $100,000 Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
One Cool Chick, trained at Knapdale by Robin Swain, was switched from pacing to trotting in January last year.
She won two trotting races before returning to the pacing gait earlier this month.
The change back to pacing was prompted by her tendency to pace soon after races.
‘‘She’d go away [trotting] and the start in trotting then swing into a pace,’’ Swain said.
‘‘Trotting has toughened her up a bit . . . she’ll be competitive in the C1s.’’
One Cool Chick, to be bred from in the spring, is in a small team Swain plans to race at remaining Southland meetings this season and at Forbury Park winter fixtures.
Promising trotter The Jinja Ninja won with a bit in reserve in the SGT Dan Stockfoods Trot.
It was her second win for Branxholme trainer Alister Black and third success in 34 starts. The Sundon mare was initially tried as a pacer by Timaru owner-trainer Alan Clark, who lined her up in a heat of the Young Guns Two-YearOld Pacing Series at Alexandra Park in December, 2012. She ran last of 10.
‘‘She had seasonal problems [earlier this term], so we gave her a spell and she’s come back really well,’’ Black said.
‘‘She’s doing a reasonable job for us.’’