By Adam Hamilton
JUST a few months back Shane Graham would have laughed at you if you’d suggested his filly Park Life would win the Australian Gold final.
Last Saturday night she did just that and pocketed $150,000 for connections in a story which should give every owner, trainer and driver some inspiration.
It’s fair to say Park Life was not a star from day one.
In fact, Graham revealed she was a bit of an equine roadblock when he and father Wayne (who trains the filly) first started working her.
“She couldn’t really go much at all. Pretty much every horse we had could beat her,” he said.
“But we kept working her and she turned the corner and then ran a really good third when we took her to the races for the first time.”
Despite that, Graham revealed it was a long, hard decision whether to chase the Gold or stay at home.
“There was an $80,000 race at home we could’ve stayed for, but we thought she won her heat easily and was still on the up.”
The gamble and faith in the Park Life paid-off when she dashed home from a cosy trail to post a 1min53.2sec mile last Saturday night.
It’s the fastest any two-year-old has gone in Australia this season.
Favourite High Rolling led, but couldn’t sustain the hot tempo and weakened late for fifth.
It almost certainly ends any hope of her joining stablemate Arms Of An Angel at the Harness Jewels.
Victorian pair Perfect Sense and Petacular ran terrific races for second and third.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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