05 March 2020 | Duane Ranger
Queensland’s current 2YO Pacer-of-the-Year, Pelosi, is over her leg injury and will be back doing hopple work in a fortnight.
The multiple Group One winning filly hasn’t raced since she won the Group One $125,000 NSW Breeders Challenge at Tabcorp Park, Menangle on June 30.
Her other Group One victory came at Albion Park on May 11 when nailed the $350,000 APG Final. All up the stunning daughter of American Ideal and For Dear Life (by Life Sign) has won six of her eight starts, and placed in one other for $254,236 in stakes.
Her Chambers Flat trainer, Anna Woodmansey, said Pelosi had been sidelined since December when preparing for the $50,000 Raith Memorial at Tabcorp Park, Menangle.
“We were all set to line her up in that Group Two race when she kicked a rail or fence, and her back leg started to swell, and had significant bruising,” Woodmansey said.
“That happened in Sydney in December, a few weeks out from that January 11 race. Since then we have been a bit precious with her, because she is a precious horse.
“We have had her leg scanned a couple of times and have ventured on the side of caution. She missed quite a bit of work and we could have rushed her back for last weekend’s NSW Oaks, but it would have been too big an ask first-up against the best 3-year-old fillies from Australia and New Zealand.”.
“I swam her in the river in Sydney and tried to keep her fit that way without putting any pressure on her legs.”
Pelosi is owned and was bred by Woodmansey’s partner, Wayne Honan. Together they have set two immediate missions for the gifted bay.
They are the Group One $210,000 APG 3yo Fillies Final at Melton on May 9, and the Group Two Breeders Challenge Finals at Menangle on July 11 and August 2.
“We want to defend our title in both those races, which we won last year. If they hold an APG heat here I’ll line her up in that heat at Albion Park on the first Tuesday after Easter, but if that race doesn’t go ahead we will have to start her in a heat in Sydney around that time,” said Woodmansey, who also works in administration at Beenleigh High School.
“She comes from a nice family, many of which have won Group races. However they can tend to be a bit fiery unless you keep them in work, but this one is a smart filly.
She said John Cremin would again do the driving behind Pelosi in 2020.
“He’s done a great job with her so far, and he’s got a wise experienced head on his shoulders. We have trained Pelosi not to be a one-dimensional racehorse.
“This means she can be driven anywhere to win – and John covers all bases.
“He adapts well and also gets on very well with the horse, which is a bonus.”
Woodmansey believed Pelosi had matured a lot since her last race, and thought the injury could have been a blessing in disguise.
“The break has done her the world of good. She’s a much better traveller now, and you can do anything with her. She isn’t so touchy or moody.”
“She has also grown a lot and I’m looking forward to her first trial towards the end of the month. She’s a natural racehorse and we are hoping her natural improvement will bring result in a good 3-year-old season.
“Even though it was disappointing at the time, it didn’t really concern us that she was out for a few months, because there are still so many 3-year-old races for her this season.”
For the record, Pelosi is named after Nancy Patricia Pelosi, an American politician who has been the speaker of the United States House of Representatives since January 2019.
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