The pandemic ensured 2021 was a tough year for everyone but for Angela Davies, it delivered an extra twist of fate.
Davies prepares a small team of a dozen horses at Gosford, so when she lost her two best gallopers to injury at the same time, it was a difficult blow.
Her 2020 Provincial Championships winner Through The Cracks didn’t race at all after undergoing surgery to a fetlock, while her two-time city winner Salina Dreaming missed the spring with a knee problem.
“It’s devastating when you’ve got two very nice horses,” Davies said.
Happily for the talented trainer, both horses are set to race at Randwick on Saturday and they are each favourite for their respective assignments.
Through The Cracks tackles the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m) second-up following a solid return in the Christmas Classic, while Salina Dreaming resumes in the Acy Securities Handicap (1100m).
The mare is dynamic fresh, winning three of her four first-up runs, but Davies is hoping the track does not deteriorate from its soft 5 rating.
“As soon as it’s wet, she’s not much good, so we are hoping we get a bit of sunshine leading into Saturday,” she said.
“We gave her two trials and now she is a month since those, but we have kept the work up to her and her work was particularly good (Wednesday) morning.
“It’s exciting to go to a Sydney Saturday with a small team.
“We’re only working 10 to 12 horses so it’s great to have two in town.”
Despite her small numbers, Davies does a terrific job and has produced five winners from just 20 runners in NSW this season.
