Hope In Your Heart is now a multiple Group 3 winner, and trainer Kerry Parker believes it’s largely because she was willing to test herself against Chris Waller’s Group 1 winners Fangirl and Hinged last preparation.
That tough but invaluable experience showed in her gutsy performance to edge out Honeycreeper in the Angst Stakes at Randwick.
2022 Angst Stakes Replay
The winning shot at the post showed champion jockey Craig Williams as far forward as he could possibly get in the saddle, such was the desperation from him and his spirited four-year-old mare.
“She’s done a wonderful job; she’s come a long way,” Parker said.
“Last prep we pushed her into those three-year-old races and no doubt it’s helped her come on and be a more mature mare now.
“She’s still a little bit silly here today before the race, but it had been a month between runs.
“Absolutely thrilled to see her get the job done.”
Parker said he was now hoping his mare had done enough to get into the $10 million Golden Eagle over 1500m on October 29.
“You’re only four years old once. If we could get into the Golden Eagle, that was always the plan,” he said.
“You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do, and you aim up.
“You can’t come back and run in it next year. That’s been our plan all along to try and keep her as fresh as we could and space those runs three weeks between to hopefully get into the Golden Eagle.”
Winning 2022 Everest rider Williams did not let the spoils of his victory in the $15 million sprint get to his head.
The star veteran produced a typically professional and whole-hearted effort, just like the mare he piloted home.
“I was lucky enough my manager secured the ride on this horse today for Mr Parker, and I was able to get the job done,” he said.