19 October 2017 | Ken Casellas
Herne Hill trainer Kevin Keys declares that four-year-old Sarah Goody has become more tractable and he is full of confidence she will make a successful return to racing after a spell when she contests the third heat of the Perth Plasterboard Centre Canning Vale Preux Chevalier Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
As a two and three-year-old Sarah Goody impressed with nine wins and six seconds from 24 starts, despite a tendency to race erratically at times. She showed her class as a three-year-old earlier this year with seconds to Maczaffair in the Daintys Daughter Classic and WA Oaks and a win in the Group 3 Westsired Pace.
“She kept improving and that was the good part about her last time in when she surprised me a couple of times when she did things wrong and still got home very good,” Keys said.
“I hope she has matured. She seems as though she has. What I do like about her is that she can sit off high speed and still duck home. The quicker they go, the better she likes it. I’ve put a bigger shadow roll on her because she seems to be looking at something on the inside of the track and her trackwork has been very good. She hasn’t looked like doing anything wrong.
“On Friday night I think she will cross to the front and dictate. I’m very happy with her and I’m sure that whatever she does she’ll improve on. Then again, I’m not producing her underdone and I expect her to go very good.”
Chris Lewis has given punters a good lead by choosing to drive Sarah Goody in preference to the consistent Sea Me Smile, who is prepared by his wife Debra. Sea Me Smile has been placed at each of her past four starts at Gloucester Park and boasts a record of 86 starts for 11 wins and 31 placings for $138,279 in stakes. She will start from barrier two on the back line with Clint Hall in the sulky.
Adding interest to the race will be the return of the Robbie Williams-trained Dame Puissant, who will be making her first appearance for just over five months. A winner at nine of her 36 starts, she will start from the inside of the back line.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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