Lady Performer (NZ) (Sacred Falls) put plans of the broodmare paddock on hold for another year after capping off a consistent run of form in the Johnny Neil Builders (1400m) at Hawera on Saturday.
The eight-year-old had nearly been retired at the end of the spring last season, but her owner-trainer Lydia Pickford opted to bring her back for another winter, which has paid off with Lady Performer recording a win, two seconds and five thirds since resuming in early April.
She was due another winning turn, but facing Rating 75 grade for the first time, she was underrated in the market closing at $15, with Librero and Ghazzah the two fancied runners of the field.
Carrying a featherlight 52kg under apprentice Amber Riddell, Lady Performer went back early to settle outside of Sotirio, while Our Akashinga eventually took the lead at a leisurely tempo. The pressure dialled up at the 600m and the mare was cruising into contention on the outside, hitting the lead at the 200m alongside Overdraft.
Spread wide apart on the track, it was hard to line up Lady Performer and Overdraft as they powered to the line in unison, but there was no doubting the photo finish which crowned Lady Performer the victor by a head.
“She’s a really honest mare and tries hard, she’s probably gotten better with the more racing she’s had this season,” Pickford said. “She really deserved that.
“She’s not the soundest horse, she’s got a few little issues, so we nurse her along and she’s going very well. She’s probably the soundest she’s ever been.
“It was interesting to see her step up to Rating 75 grade and cop it, that’s the grade she has to race in from now on so we’ll see how we go.”
The daughter of Sacred Falls boosted her total earnings above $136,000, a far cry from the $1,200 outlaid to purchase her through gavelhouse.com in 2023.
“She was a bit tricky when we first got her, she wasn’t the easiest to manage, but she’s a nice mare that has mellowed in her older age,” Pickford said.
“I was actually going to retire her last year but Leah Hemi (jockey) said to me that she would be alright for another winter.
“I was going to put her in foal at the end of last season but it got late enough, and she was sitting in the back paddock, so I thought we may as well then send her away this spring. But, you can’t retire her the way she’s going at the moment, so that’ll likely be put in hold until next year now.
“She does a lot of jumping and enjoys that as well, my daughter likes show jumping her and mucking around with that so she may have a calling with that too.
Out of a More Than Ready mare Peak Performer, Lady Performer is a half-sister to Toesonthenose, a six-race winner in Queensland, and recent maiden winner Paddy The Farmer.
In 54 starts, she has recorded four wins and 17 minor placings.
“It’s great to have one that tries so hard, it would be easy if they were all like her,” Pickford said.