By Jonny Turner
The racebook may read the same, but Tom Bagrie is sure he is returning with a better horse for the second running of the Group 3 The Dark Horse at Invercargill today.
With the Southern Trotting Oaks already on her résumé, Walkinonsunshine heads south in the hope she can bag another Ascot Park trotting feature.
The four-year-old’s first attempt at the newly minted mares’ event was something of a non-event when she settled last in a leader-dominated affair.
Walkinonsunshine not only returns a little bit older for the 2025 edition of The Dark Horse (6.37pm) but Bagrie is sure she’s a little bit better and importantly, a little bit wiser.
“She was learning a lot about standing starts last year, she got away safely but was just too far back,” the Canterbury trainer said.
“From there it was a bit of a non-event.”
“And I never really felt like we had her right last year, either.”
“It took her a while to bounce back from all of her age-group racing.”
“But this year I am really happy with where she is at, she is in a great spot.”
“She’s had that standing start experience now too, so hopefully she can begin well and settle handier this year.”
Though front-markers dominated last year’s placings, a 10m marker in Eurostyle won the inaugural running of the event, just as Walkinonsunshine will attempt to do on Thursday.
Princess Sadie looks the hardest to beat of those off the front this year and she comes into The Dark Horse after beating Walkinonsunshine home in the recent Group Three Jasmyn’s Gift Stakes at Oamaru.
“The front-markers are going to run for it like cut cats, so we are going to need a bit of luck,” Bagrie said.
“Princess Sadie looks like she’s in a great run of form – she went nice at Oamaru and beat us home.”
“We have got our work cut out to beat her, but I do think our mare has come on since that run.”
The backmarkers of The Dark Horse have class on their side and they are going to need it to overcome their 30m handicaps.
Hidden Talent ($5.50) and Empire City ($11) have been let go at juicy odds considering their undoubted ability.
Princess Sadie has been rated the $3.20 favourite for the race, ahead of Walkinonsunshine ($4.50).
