The emotional comeback of talented mare Coco Mia took another progressive step at Port Pirie on Saturday.
Coco Mia ($1.80 into $1.50 fav) was driven aggressively by Wayne Hill to find the front from gate three in the $9999 Ladbrokes Southern Cross Pace (1609m) then proceeded to give her rivals a pacing lesson.
The five-year-old mare rated an excellent 1:54.8 on a track which, because of rain, was not as fast as it was a week earlier.
Coco Mia rated sectionals of 28.5, 29.7, 28.2 and 28.3 seconds which meant her rivals faced a near impossible task to catch her.
She crossed the finish three metres clear of Hes All Torque ($11) with Bay Jim Major ($4.60), seven metres away third.
Bred and owned by Tara-Shae Linke, and trained by her brother Tyson in Kadina, it was feared the mare may not race again she won at Maryborough in December 2023.
But a five-month spell worked wonders and Coco Mia has now won two of her three runs from that break.
“Coco Mia showed ability from the time we put her in work as a two-year-old,” Tyson Linke said.
“After she won at Port Pirie at the end of May last year, Tara and I decided to send her across to Emma Stewart in Victoria and she was a first up winner at Geelong in October.”
After a third at Bendigo in December, the mare went sore, and it was 12 months before she returned to racing with a win at Maryborough, but Stewart said she was finding it hard to train Coco Mia because of her injury issues.
“We bought her home and gave her five months of rest and relaxation before putting her into work again,” Linke said.
“We were always wary that her hock issues would flare up again but to this point we have had no problems.”
Linke said there were no definite plans for Coco Mia, but rather he would try to find suitable races.
“Races such as tonight with stakes of $9999 are ideal.”
Linke said Coco Mia’s dam Jet Quick had a two-year-old filly coming through by Downbytheseaside and was currently in foal again.’
He also revealed his mare Encipher, which last year won the world’s richest race, the $2.1 million TAB Eureka had completely recovered from surgery to repair a broken pastern incurred when she won at Melton in January.
“She is that good we could consider putting her back into training, but that won’t happen as she has done more than enough for us.
“Encipher is booked to be served by the champion American stallion Confederate which is standing in Australia this year.”
Outstanding reinswoman Danielle Hill continued her driving comeback with a patient steer on Aldebaran Stiles for Wasleys trainer Claire Goble.
After settling on the inside behind the leader, Hill angled Aldebaran Stiles ($2.10 fav) into the Risdon Hotel sprint lane and the four-year-old trotted through to take out the Birrell Heavy Tilt & Transport Trotters Handicap (2050m).
He won by two metres from Buckles ($6.50) with Andoverlov ($15), 2-1/2 metres away third.
Aldebaran Stiles has had two wins and two seconds since joining Goble’s stable towards the end of last month.
One of the amazing wins of the night came from Jack Bronski, a seven-year-old, trained at Penfield by Ingrid Smith, and driven by her husband David.
Jack Bronski had won his previous two starts and started a $3 chance in the Kauschke’s Discount Paint Pace (1609m).
David Smith allowed the gelding to settle at the tail of the field of eight before asking him to improve going into the back straight.
The seven-year-old sprinted so quickly he went from last to first in the space of 200 metres and Smith kept him going to win comfortably by 10-1/2 metres.
Maurlen Annie ($3 fav) emerged from the pack to give chase but had to be content with second, 18 metres in front of Bourdain ($26).
Class mare Dancing Finn landed some good bets in taking out the Five540 Services Pace (1609m).
After opening at $3, persistent support pushed her price into $1.65 favourite.
Reinsman Josh Holberton had the mare away well from gate five and kept driving hard to find the front, and once in the lead, was able control the tempo.
Dancing Finn, trained at Globe Derby Park by Lance Holberton, was never troubled winning by two metres from Van Mara ($13) with Alakazam ($7.50), 2-1/2 metres away third.
Veteran reinsman Garth Hurrell, 78, drove his 16th winner when Majestic Tilly led throughout in the Muscle M Up USA @ Trump Bloodstock Emerging Stars Trotters Series Heat Four (2050m).
The $2.50 favourite, Majestic Tilly was perfectly rated by Hurrell to win by three metres from Bishop George ($5.50) with Willis Graham ($4.20), 4-1/2 metres away third.
Hurrell, who lives in Clare, has been a strong harness racing supporter for several decades.
Next Saturday’s meeting at Port Pirie features another heat of the Emerging Trotters series as well as another SA Concession Drivers Pace.
Gawler will be the venue for harness racing on Monday, July 29, then again on Sunday, August 4 then Port Pirie on Tuesday, August 6.
